Chapter Seven

Delta Dawn, what’s that flower you have on?
Could it be a faded rose from days gone by?
And did I hear you say he was meeting you here today
To take you to his mansion in the sky?
Delta Dawn
Performed by Helen Reddy
Words and Music by Alex Harvey and Larry Collins

Day 13

Old Doc Willie shined the Jackson family on for over a week but today was the end of all of that.  Willie kept saying how sick she was and how much of a mental break she’d had that it wasn’t safe to allow her visitors.  Dad put up with that shit but no more. Nicholas had enough and he wasn’t about to be kept from his Mother for one more minute. To that end he made no appointment to see her today so that no one would have any advanced warning.  They cleaned her up for Daniel but his visit had been a surprise and Nick would bet anything that he found her alone, scared, and filthy.  If they refused to let him up, if Willie said he couldn’t see her then he’d use his brawn and push his way through or he’d just zap himself into her room, grab and her and get the fuck out.  Last night as he laid this non-plan out for Colleen in her room she agreed that something had to be done. Dad was willing to go along with whatever Willie suggested and he wasn’t thinking straight. Thankfully he wasn’t drinking anymore either but he was under an enormous amount of pressure from Uncle Jack and the mucky-mucks in the government. Everyone had fifty million questions and it seemed no one had the right answers.  Every day that passed the Congressional Hearing crept closer and the mood of the country became tenser. One night Dad even suggested that Mom was better off in here because at least she was safe.

They knew what he meant. It was getting uglier by the day. On campus hate groups formed against the Mutants, the Aliens and the Creatures that lived among the Mortal human beings.  They plastered pamphlets on car windows and telephone poles, they put a website and held weekly meetings at the student union.  Even though Cole and Nick were Immortal and could use their minds to just blast those envious frightened little bastards off of the planet it didn’t help the small defenseless and horribly unwanted feeling that hung over them.

“Ready?” Nick asked Cole as he pulled to a stop in the parking lot.

“Yeah, I guess.” Cole took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “She’s really bad, huh, Nicky?”  Their relationship had been for-shit since he got back. Cole didn’t want to spend much time with or even around her Brother but they suffered each other’s presence for their Mother’s sake (just like Dad put with him for the same)  now that they were here she supposed she could put up with each him a little longer. “You’re sure about this?”

“She ain’t great.” Nick said with a nod of his dark curls. “Look, before we go in. I know you don’t like me right now, Coley.  I know you hate me and I know what you think…” He turned to look at her and stopped cold.

Cole and Mom had a lot in common one of them being their ability to say so much with so few words and the depth of their eyes.  Asshole! Jerk! Stupid motherfucker! What did you think you were doing? What the fuck is wrong with you? You better make it right and q-u-i-c-k.  Yep, sitting there with her arms folded across her chest, those full lips sticking out and her blue eyes smoldering Coley said all of that and more to her Brother.

 The sentiment which silently struck his ears the loudest was also the simplest (so like Mom); I don’t trust you.  He deserved that and more.

 “Annie and I are workin’ it out, ok?  If she can take being around me so can you.”  Cole let out a little titter. “All I’m sayin’ is let’s not bring this in there, ok? Mom doesn’t need it she needs us and she needs us to work together. Got that?” Nick opened the door of the Mustang and let himself out. “Comin’?”

Tossing her hair aside Colleen followed him through the parking lot and into the building. Jeez it smells funny in here. Her nose wrinkled and she wished for an open window.  She followed him up to the front desk. “I know I don’t have an appointment but I want to see my Mother, Calla Jackson.” He said in a very deep very stern voice. Nicky was one of the biggest men she’d ever seen other than Umpa and he could be outrageously intimidating to those who did not know him….even to those who did.  “If Willie’s here I’m sure he’ll ok it.” Nick added leaning over the counter so that he actually loomed over the body of the much smaller receptionist. He smiled but to her all she saw were big sharp white teeth. 

Dealing with insane patients was one thing but dealing with very large sane men who could become very irate at any moment was another. Not to mention the fact that the two very normal looking teenagers were Mutants….two of them! He could turn her dust with his mind if he wanted! She was sure of it!  “I’ll ring him up,” she said and tried to smile as she picked up the phone and punched in Dr. Willie’s extension.  “What’s your name?”

“Nicholas…Jackson….this is my Sister, Colleen.”

“Dr. Willie, it’s Amy, Nicholas and Colleen Jackson as here to see their Mother, Calla Jackson.” She paused, listened and then spoke again. “Yes, sure.”  Hanging up with phone with relief rushing through her she looked up and up and up at Nicholas. “Here you go, Dr. Willie says to go on up.”

They were given Visitor’s Passes which they would leave at the security station along with their jackets, Cole’s purse, Nick’s wallet and any keys or sharp jewelry either of them might have. In Calla’s room all of these things were considered dangerous weapons but the passes would get them onto the lock-ward.   The twins pinned them to their coats so they were visible to anyone who wanted to look. “Thanks,” Nick said sounding a bit more amiable but no less serious.

Riding up in the elevator in silence Nick shifted from one foot to the other. This was always the longest part of the visit.  Nine floors up in a rickety box that shimmied and shook but the certificate said it passed inspection not more than six months ago. 

Yeah right.

The doors opened and the noises started. Nick looked down when he felt Cole’s arm slide into his. The stench was worst up here.  Patting her hand he flashed the Visitor’s Pass to the security guard in front of the heavy metal locked doors.

 “Hi …Nicholas, right?” he said. 

Yeah, that’s right and you know that ‘cause that bitch or Willie called up to say we were coming.  “Hey,” Nick mumbled emptying his pockets and putting the pass into the blue bowl with everything else.  He checked his coat with Paul the Security Guard and waited while his items were slid into a brown envelope that he had to sign and give back. Nicholas waited while Colleen went through the same process.

Paul patted them down gently to make sure they weren’t smuggling in any contraband and then finally hit the buzzer which opened the doors.  Cole looped her arm through Nicks’ one more time and they went through to the locked ward of the clinic.  Rosemary was the nurse at the desk Nicholas smiled and waved at her. “How’s she doing today?”

“I haven’t been in. But I understand she still isn’t talking. What else is new?” Rosemary said trying to sound conversational but without smiling at them. “Who’s this?”

Nicholas introduced his Sister and they were through one more once-over by the nurse before she let them walk the rest of the way down the corridor to their Mother’s room.  “Have a nice visit.” Rosemary told them. “Twenty minutes.”

Twenty lousy minutes. It sucked.

Each step made the twins feel heavier and more disheartened. Everywhere around them there were noises, screams, groans, moans, shouts and expletives came from every direction. Off down the corridor to the left was a blaring TV on which Sally Jessie Raphael was berating someone.  “This one.” Nick said guiding her over to where their Mother was currently residing. Looking back over his shoulder he caught Rosemary’s attention and she unlocked the door from the nurse’s station.  Cole watched him kick off his shoes and she did the same leaving both pairs outside the room.  “It’s not pretty. Be prepared ok? She’s not really Mom right now.” He warned and then walked inside. Once again she followed suit.

Calla was sitting against the far wall of the room.  It seemed they’d been able to get new hospital pajamas on her...well one day they’d been new. The last time he saw her she was in white and today she had on an aquamarine pair. They were just as filthy as the others had been. The gouges on her face were all scabbed over and flaking.  In a day or two they’d drop away revealing fresh pink skin but for now it looked just terrible and when she saw him and smiled they expanded and widened with her cheeks making her look as though she were staring out at the world through some bizarre set of bars. Behind him Colleen drew in a deep shocked breath and he was thankful that his big body blocked his Mother’s full view of her Daughter. “Hi, Momma.” Nick said easily and squatted down next to her.

Calla tilted her face up toward him and suddenly her sad face brightened into an insane grin. She wrestled with the restrains as she tried to hold her arms out to Nicholas.

Poppa! Poppa! Poppa!
He came!
He’s going to take us out of here!

No he isn’t!
Stupid twit!

The smile faded a little then her mouth dropped partially open. 

Colleen found her voice.

“What the fu—“ Colleen slapped him hard on the upper arms just as she’d done in the car. “Why the hell is our Mother opening her mouth to you?” Cole slapped his upper arm again. “Huh? What are ya gonna put in it? Your tongue or your dick?” Every word she spoke grew a bit in decibel level as her eyes narrowed on his and she began pushing up the sleeves of his pale pink sweater as if to fight with him.

“Shut up,” he growled in as soft a tone as possible. “Look what you’re doing to her.”

Calla had skittered away from them an huddled into the corner where the doll was hiding.  She pulled it out and laid it on her lap then she drew her legs up to her chin and restrained arms locked around them she didn’t take her eyes off the two intruders.

“Answer me!” Colleen demanded too disturbed by everything she was seeing, feeling and smelling to rein herself in.

“Just watch.”  He sighed and turned his attention to his Mother. Slowly he walked across the small room, three steps was all it took. “No one’s gonna put their cock near your mouth or anything else, Momma.  It’s ok.”  Nick soothed. “I’m sorry, she’s just upset because she loves you so much and hasn’t seen you in so long.  Look, I didn’t forget.” Holding out his hand five Hershey Kisses appeared in the palm. “See? For you.”

Uncertain but wanting the sweet treat Calla brought her face out from behind her knees but did not unlock her arms from them.  Watching him unwrap the shiny green foil (Valentines’ Day over and done with the Kisses were all set for Easter.) her blank eyes lit up a bit and her mouth started to water as he brought near her lips. “Open up its ok.” Hesitantly her lower jaw dropped a bit but not wide enough to get the Kiss into. Like the last time he was here her open mouth was just a small slit and Nick had to bite the Kiss in half to give it to her piece by piece at first. By the time she sucked two Kisses down and she was ready to take a whole one. “See?” He said to his Sister as Calla sucked on the third Kiss. “That’s what she wants. Not my cock.” Turning his head away he mumbled; “Stupid bitch.”

“Sorry,” Cole muttered, “but ya gotta admit…” she stopped and let it go. There was no sense in upsetting Calla further, if need be then they could argue over it later. “Hi, Mom.” Coley knelt down to look at her Mother. “Do you know who I am?”  They waited but she didn’t say anything. “That’s ok, I know who you are.” Cole settled her long lean body on the dirty floor by her Mother.  “Jeez, what’d they do to her?”

One thing they hadn’t done was wash her.  Underneath a fresh layer of some heavy perfume—which they’d probably sprayed on her the second old Willie called and said he and Cole would be arriving—Calla  smelled worse than a donkey’s ass.  “I’ll tell you what they’re not doing; they are not taking care of her.”  Nick took Calla’s small wrists in his big hands and undid the restraints.

“What are you doing?” Cole asked as she watched. “Nicky you’re not supposed to take those off of her…what if….”

The leather restraints with the sheepskin lining fell away from her wrists to reveal red chaffed skin beneath. “She isn’t gonna hurt you or me or anyone else.”

Suddenly, with her Mother’s hands now free, one overwhelming idea occurred to Colleen and flashed itself in her mind like a big red neon sign until she could no longer resist its call.  Dad and Uncle David spent a week in Scotland with her and Dr. Adams said the Xerinium was gone. Colleen didn’t hesitate she threw her athletic arms around Callas’ small frame and hugged her tightly within seconds the dam broke and Colleen started to cry buckets. Out of her gourd or not this was the first time she’d been able to hug her Mother in almost two months! It felt so good! Even if Calla couldn’t understand Cole did and in this moment that was enough.

 “I love you, Mom. I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to say those things. I didn’t mean to be gone so long.” Cole held on firmly but not tightly as the two auburn haired women rocked on the white padded floor.  She was such a coward! She should have come with Nick the first day Mom was allowed visitors. “I’m sorry.” Cole mumbled again. “I’m so sorry I abandoned you. I love you.” Holding her tightly Coley realized her Mother stunk every bit as much as the room around them did. “She smells awful.”

“I told you and Dad they’re not washing her. No one listens to me.” Nick grumbled with a smile because he was facing Calla and he did not want her to become upset. “What’s that?” He reached out and touched the wound on her left temple. “What the hell???”

Colleen pushed her Mother away to look at what Nicholas was talking about. “I don’t know…what did they do? Inject her with something?”

Calla pulled away. Maybe Cole hadn’t said the word ‘needle’ but ‘inject’ was close enough. She let out a low whimper and shook her head slowly from side to side.

Without thinking about it they both started to look her over very carefully. “Jesus H. Christ,” Nick muttered, “there are needle marks everywhere!”

“n-n-no-“ Calla moaned and kicked out at them with weak legs.

“Shhh, it’s ok,” Cole soothed, “No one’s going to give you a shot.”  Then she looked up at her Brother. “What the fuck are they doing to her?” She whispered and took a closer look at the deep wound on Calla’s head.  There was an oval shaped indentation and in the middle was a very large needle mark. “I don’t like this, Nicky.” In a lower voice she confessed. “I’m scared. They’re hurting her.”

“I told you.” He mumbled in return. “You all think I’m lying or a monster or something but I love her just as much as any of you and I’ve been telling you and Dad for days they’re doing things to her that they don’t want us to know about.”  Nick smiled to reassure her that everything was ok even though it felt like everything was about to spin out of control. He traced the outline of her worn tired face and watched Colleen hug her. “I’m not lying. I’m not a monster….I’m not like Umpa.” I’m not, I’m not, dear God please, I’m not like him.

Over Cole’s shoulder Calla gave a small happy grin that touched her distant eyes and then she nestled her face in Colleen’s shoulder. “K…pun’kin.” Calla muttered holding on tight to her Daughter and patting her little hand against Cole’s back as if to offer comfort. “K, no ry, K.”

Pumpkin that was what Dad called her.

 K no ry, K.

 It’s ok, don’t cry, it’s ok.

Maybe she was dreaming but from the look on Nick’s face Coley didn’t think so.  Cole brushed the tears away from her face and broke the hug to look at her Mother. “What did you say Mom?”

“Baby. Pun’kin baby.” Calla cooed and grinned wider. “My pun’kin baby.” Her chilly papery hands went from Cole’s shoulders to her face where Calla ran her fingertips over Cole’s lips and cheeks and then finally her hands came to rest on her own little belly. “Baby.” The smile on her face grew wider.

“You got a baby in there, huh?” Cole brushed the wetness away from her cheeks and looked up at her Brother. “She knows that doesn’t she? I thought they said she doesn’t talk.” Other than to say ‘baby’ to Nick and to call Dad ‘Beautiful’ as far as any of them knew Calla didn’t speak nor did she recognize anyone.

Nick asked the normal question;  “Do you know who I am?” Please God don’t let her remember what I did but let her know who I am.

No hesitation. Yes of course she knew who the man was! He always hugged her and brought her such sweet treats! And he was so BIG! Who else could he be?

“Poppa.” Calla said absently and the smile on her face faltered. As soon as the word came out of her mouth she thought it wasn’t correct but it had to be it just had to be! “Poppa…baby…” she stuttered and grabbed for Nicholas’ hand. She put it on her belly. “Baby…Poppa?”  The frown on her face deepened. “Puh--puh—puh…” she couldn’t get any more out.

Nick and Cole just looked at each other not knowing what to say or do.  He didn’t want her thinking he was Ares. “I’m Nicholas. I’m your Son, Mom. Your Son not your Father…I just look like him, like Umpa…like Ares.”

At the sound of his name Calla winced and pulled completely away from Colleen only to hold her arms out to him. “Poppa?”

“No.  Nicky.” He pointed to himself.  Nicholas almost wished he was Ares maybe then she could say good-bye to him and get her mind back.

Calla rolled away from both of them to lie on her side.

“Do you think you can do something?” Nick asked her.

“About what?”

“Her hair. The way she smells. The marks on her face. Can’t you do anything?” He said in a heatedly voice and then bit it back. “Sorry, Cole. That hurt.” However, if Nick had any idea just how much his Mother wanted to see her Father he might have thought it a great compliment. But he was only beginning to truly understand how much she loved Ares and needed him. Nick, of course, was still pissed as hell at his Grandfather and didn’t care if he never saw the old bastard again.

“I know it did.” She sympathized and gave him a hug. “Yeah, I think I can fix this.” Cole ran her fingertips through Calla’s ultra short ultra dirty hair. “This is really gross. I can’t believe they haven’t washed her it’s cruel.”  On the padded floor Calla whimpered and trembled.

“They’re scared of her and they’re not taking caring of her because of it.” He said in a low whisper.  “We gotta get her outta here. Can’t you see that?”

“Just hold that thought, ok?” Cole asked Nick and then turned back to her Mother. “Stay still ok, Mom?  I’m gonna fix you up, I wish I could fix your mind as easily.”  Colleen slid her arms under Calla and picked her up as though she were her sleepy 12 year-old sister. Calla, still whimpering and staring off into the deep space of her mind did not resist.  The first thing the young woman attempted was to connect with Calla’s mind  but it was lost to her, she couldn’t connect with it in any meaningful way other than to feel its manic ebb and flow and how it was constantly racing with fear and uncertainty though you’d never know it from looking at Calla.  Voices. There were so many voices in her head and they all had an opinion.  She had to listen to that all day and all night?  Hell, if Cole had to do that she’d go nuts too. Deeply saddened at not being able to bring her Mother back to her senses Colleen concentrated on her frail body. A strong glow of amber light emanated from her to engulf the woman in her arms and heal her.

In front of Nick’s deep brown eyes Calla’s hair grew long and the scarring nail marks on her face faded away.  “She smells better.” Colleen announced when she was finished.  It wasn’t much but it was a start.

Nick leaned in for a sniff.  “Yeah, you do.” He smiled and Calla smiled back. It was a real smile, he saw it! It wasn’t one of those blank and distant childish grins she was usually giving out. She was there…right there.

I know you.
Not Poppa.

Not ares

“Nick-O-lus,” Calla stuttered. “Baby boy.”

“That’s me.” His smile grew tenfold and he reached out to hug her.  “Your baby boy.  I love you, Mom.” Thank you, God.  “Do you think that Dad and….Uncle David…” his lips were tight and he hated the thought…. “do you think they can reach her if they….ya know…if they….”

“I dunno, Nicky. She’s pretty far gone but I think she wants to come back.”

Soon someone was knocking on the door and they looked up to see Nurse Rosemary standing there waving them out and pointing to her watch. The harsh sound of her wrapping on the window caused Calla to jump in his arms Nick didn’t have to be told it was happening because he felt her mind fleeing. When he looked into her eyes again they were child-like and faded.

Fucking Rosemary. I hate that bitch. She chased me away last time too.

At the thought the nurse wrapped on the glass one more time pointing to her watch; Time’s up.

 “We gotta go,” Nick said, “give me your hands.” Calla pulled them away and tried to hide them because she did not want to be bound anymore. “I know you hate this I hate it too but ya gotta let me do this, ok?”

Tears welled up in her blank eyes and she shook her head. Colleen sighed and tried to reach for her Mother’s hands but Calla yanked them away and went scooting off to her corner again. “Good.” She mumbled from the safety of her place against the wall. “Me good. Me Me Me…good!”

“Very good.” Nick agreed.  “But we gotta do this, please don’t fight with me, Momma.”

Nurse Rosemary banged on the observation window for a third time.

“Tell that bitch we’ll be out in a minute.” Nick grumbled to Cole. “Please Momma ya gotta gimme your hands or I’m gonna get in trouble.”

Trouble.
TR-UB-L!
Trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble,
BAD!

Those wide blank eyes opened even wider as she blinked at him and shook her head. At first Nick thought she was telling him no but then her hands came out from behind her back and she lowered them to her sides so he could slip the restraints around them. Then he realized she didn’t want him to get in trouble.  “I’ll see you tomorrow, ok? I love you so much, I’m gonna get you outta here.”

Calla opened her mouth one last time and quickly he popped the last Hershey’s Kiss into it. “Let’s go.” He said to Cole.

“Bye Mom it was good to see you.” Colleen hugged her again. “I’ll be back soon I promise.”

“Girl. Pretty girl.” Calla said easily and kissed Cole’s cheek. She reached up and played with Coley’s red hair, she stroked it and twirled it around her finger while smiling that blank child-like grin.

“Yeah, that’s me, Colleen.” Cole kissed her back and wiped a tear away from her face as Nurse Rosemary opened the door. “I don’t wanna leave you.” It was wrong. Nick, asshole or not, was right. Mom shouldn’t stay here anymore. They had to bring her home. “I love you, Mom.” She said over her shoulder but Calla wasn’t listening now. Instead she kissed Cole’s cheek one more time and then crawled back off to her corner to happily sucking away on the chocolate Nick had given her.

Feeling as though she were doing the most wrong thing she’d ever done in her entire life, Colleen walked through the door with Nicholas only to hear it slam shut behind them.

“Mr. Jackson don’t let me catch you doing that again or I will have to report you to Dr. Willie.” Nurse Rosemary said sternly as she planted her hands on her ample hips. “Restraints are used for a purpose, mainly your safety and hers.”

“Fine but I thought someone was finally going to give her a bath. She stinks. Perhaps I should bring that fact up to Dr. Willie.” Nicholas wanted to give the bitch in white a hearty knuckle sandwich but instead managed a false smile.  “At least you got into her some fairly clean clothes.”

The cold smile on Nurse Rosemary’s smug face faltered and then fell as she pursed her thin lips. Nick and Cole started to walk away.  “Look what’s become of her hair. Now we’ll have to cut it again. It is a menace. You must not do things like this. Was it you?” She snapped at Colleen. All the staff knew the Jackson’s were ‘special’ in more ways than one and they were looked on with a great deal of suspicion. They were different damnit! They were one of the ‘Them’ and not one of ‘Us’. Mutants. Aliens.  The same variety that tried to take over this planet only a short time ago so why should the staff of Humans waste their time and energies on then likes of Calla Jackson and her freak offspring when so many of their own kind required their help?

“I’ll be back tomorrow and I’ll wash her myself if I have to.” Nick said in a very strong voice. “Her hair is no a menace unless someone like you or Mr. Shitflinger pulls it.” “Fucking bitch.”

“Yeah, I see that.” Cole agreed. “Don’t they know she isn’t going to hurt anyone?”

“Who knows?  You know,” he brightened suddenly, “that’s the most she’s said since they brought her here. I guess she’s doing better no matter what they say.”

Walking back out to the double doors the nurse at the station handed them back their Visitor’s Passes and out past the doors the security guard, Paul, gave them back their personal items including their warm winter coats.  Their backs to the elevators and Nick hunched over Paul’s desk so that he could scribble his name stating he’d received everything back in good condition they were unaware when the elevator doors opened on the middle of a conversation.

“The Husband will be up today he called last night.”

“Do you think you can convince him to go forward?”

“Dr. Jackson’s an intelligent man I’m sure I can make him see that terminating this pregnancy so we can begin an aggressive drug therapy plan, possibly even shock treatments if she doesn’t start coming around soon, he’ll see that it’s best for her.”

The door shut and the hair on the back of Nicholas’ neck and his arms stood straight up. Colleen’s blood suddenly ran like ice water.

Bzzzz.

The two doctors, one of which was Dr. Willie, began walking through the secure double door without noticing Nick or Colleen.  “Besides, who need another one of them, right?” Truth be told Willie would have liked Calla to have the baby but those paying him figured they could knock her up whenever they wanted to and besides in another week or so when they terminated the pregnancy there’d be enough ‘tissue’ to dissect and have a good look at. Who knew what they could learn from that?  So now it fell to Willie to make Daniel understand this was in his wife’s best interest. Not that it mattered too much plans were already in place for superceding Daniel Jackson’s authority where his wife was concerned. Soon she’d be a ward of the state and there wasn’t anything Daniel could do about it. Then Willie would make all the necessary decisions for her.  Dr. Jackson and his family would never see it coming.

Calla was proving to be strong both in psychic and telekinetic abilities. She was very useful and very interesting. The more he used the mind device on her the more he learned about how it all worked which was the really interesting part to Willie although watching her levitate plants wasn’t bad either. Nope, not bad at all!  Once they knew how she worked then they could start trying to duplicate her in a more controlled way than having her spit out any old offspring. If Ares could have a clone of her, why couldn’t they have at least that many?  With the way the Olympian physiology worked those clones would be strongest if they were bred and gestated by their Mother; Calla.

Click. The double door shut.

“Did you hear him?” Cole whispered.

“See ya.” Nick said with a happy grin and then put his hand under Cole’s elbow to guide her into the elevators.  “I heard him, who could miss it?” He griped after the doors shut. “Did Dad say anything about this to you?”

“No.  You?”  She watched Nick shake his head. “That’s not really what I meant. Did you hear what he said?”

Both of them kept up on Current Events and as such were completely aware of the Denver incident and others like it happening around the country…the world.  This wasn’t the first time they had come within earshot of hatred, bigotry and prejudice.  No over the last few weeks they’d heard people talking about mutants and then lately they’d started hearing rumors and whispers about the need to round up said mutants put them on display via the Internet and make their names available to everyone as though they were criminals just so that Normal People knew who they were and wouldn’t have to be afraid.

That was bad enough and it was hard to take but at least, the twins figured, they still had their anonymity. Not anymore. This just made it all the more real and all the more terrifying for them. This time those people with their fat ugly mouths weren’t just talking out their fat ugly asses they were talking about Mom and they knew it! They knew who and what she was. Willie of all people! Damn it! The whole family liked Dr. Willie---well up until two minutes ago. How could an educated man like him….a member of the SGC for cryin’ out loud!—think so small?  If the staff here at the clinic knew what Calla was then the staff knew what he and Colleen were so why bother going through the charade of the security ritual?  Obviously everyone knew they could pop in and bring in whatever they wanted whenever they wanted. With that said then they must be lulling them and Dad and Mom in some way.  No matter how the shit came down it wasn’t good. “What do you wanna do?” Nick asked. “I mean if you think Dad will do that, which he can’t, it’s not right.  If he does and if he won’t take her out of here next week then what do you want to do?”

“Do? Us?” She pointed back and forth between the two of them while the elevator descended. “What do you wanna do? Kidnap her?” Coley joked folding her arms across her chest.  “Oh no!” She cried suddenly seeing the expression on her Brother’s face. “No way. Nicky, I’m telling you…..”

“Someone’s got to take care of her,” he interjected. “If it’s not gonna be Dad then it’s gotta be us.”  The doors opened and the conversation stopped.  Out in the parking lot it resumed once more.

“Are you nuts?”

Nicholas threw open the car door. “She’s knows she’s pregnant, Cole, you saw that,” sliding his long legs in behind the steering wheel he flopped down onto the cherry red leather seat. “She knows and she’s…she’s….”

The passenger door slammed shut.  Colleen turned to look at him. “Dad and the doctors know best, ok? Look, ya know, when she’s better they can have other babies.”

“Listen to yourself. After that you still think anyone here has Mom’s best interest in their heart? The last thing they want is another one of us around, right?” Nick let out a heavy grunt followed by an even heavier sigh. “Don’t you get it? We can’t let Dad or anyone else do this to her.”

“Why? ‘Cause it might be yours?” She interjected flippantly and then gauged her Brother’s response.

That sigh was followed by a very slow turn of his dark head and then a long smoldering stare from eyes so black you could almost never see the pupils in them.   “You know,” he said in a slow even tone, “even if there was the chance that might be true,” Nick stopped and cleared his throat while turning the key in the ignition, “that wouldn’t be the reason. And, by the way, it’s disgusting.  Why would I want my Mother to…”

“Yeah it is fuckin’ disgutin’, Nicky.” Cole retorted.  “Don’t be like Umpa anymore. Don’t put what you want ahead of what’s best for her.”

“I’m not! You heard them! It’s not what I want,” he said as his tone grew colder and moved in closer behind the steering wheel.  “No, it ain’t.” Nick smiled without looking at her. Hell if he had his way he’d talk Daniel into signed those papers and hand delivering them with a big box of Hershey’s Kisses.  The idea of his Mother having his Baby really just turned his stomach but that reality was just as possible as any other so he had to face it.  Not pretty. Nope, not something he ever even thought of before so if terminating the pregnancy really was the best option for her he’d be happier than anyone about that little fact.  “It’s about what she wants. You or me or Dad we don’t got the right to take that away from her, don’t you get that?” Giving her a few seconds to answer and she did not he went on. “Mom knows she’s pregnant. Didn’t you see her smile?  What if it was you and you knew and one day you woke up and they took that away from you?”  He looked back at the building and wished she had a window so that he might look up to see her looking down. Alas padded cells had no glass. Even the observation window was not glass it was a heavy clear alloy or something or other. Either way it was shatter-proof and expensive.

In the uncomfortable silence Colleen thought about his question but didn’t have to search her mind long for an answer; she’d hate it. She’d be damn pissed off when…if…she came back to herself.  Still, “She wanted an abortion, you know? Remember?”

“You know her and you know Dad went chasing after her.  She was just scared and… surprised.”  Pushing down the gas pedal the 350Boss revved to life. 

“You’re never gonna tell anyone what happened, are you?” Colleen pulled the lap belt shut.

“Nope.” Nick agreed fastening his own safety belt. “If he ever asks me straight out, I’ll tell Dad but nobody else.” Yes he would do that not because he wanted Daniel to know what he’d done but knew what he suspected about Ares. As much as it might hurt Daniel and Calla, he should know the truth that Ares didn’t force her into anything. Maybe Ares tricked her but there was no bullying or arm twisting involved. Nicholas clearly remembered them having the argument about his parentage while they were seeking out Valhalla just before Eros killed Annie and Lilly. She’d been so adamant that Daniel was his Father because her ‘children were conceived in love’. He didn’t understand why that was so important to her until Ares and Zeus told him about Kanan and the children she’d given him only to have their infant lives snuffed out before they could begin.  Obviously those children were not conceived in love and they met a bad end.  Maybe she was afraid of the same happening to him and Colleen.  At leas this time she had a 3-in-4 chance of having that be true. Even if the baby was Ares’ it was still conceived the way she’d want it to be.

“Mom don’t remember and there’s no reason she ever has to so there’s no reason anyone but me and Umpa need to know.  “As far as she’s concerned that baby is Dad’s. She doesn’t ever have to know any different.”  Dropping the car into drive and sliding on his dark glasses he looked over at her one last time.  “Got it now?” He pulled out of the parking lot. “That’s what we gotta make him understand before he does something he can’t take back.”

Speaking of things that couldn’t be taken back, once they reached the street Colleen couldn’t be silent anymore. “Did you do it?”

His big heart stopped and his hands tightened on the steering wheel but other than Nicholas did not lose his cool. “Answer me first.”

“Yeah, I got it.” She sighed. “We’ll talk to Dad.” Colleen waited for him to give her the answer she was seeking but he remained silent giving her time to wonder if she really wanted that answer.  Wasn’t his silence enough of an admission of guilt? Surely if he were innocent he’d shout it from the mountain tops.  “How’s anybody supposed to trust you?” She said in a voice that was almost a whine.  “You gotta tell somebody some day.”

Already did that. Nicholas stopped for the stop sign and with no traffic coming he went through the intersection and flicked on the radio.  Yep, he told good old Dr. Willie, yeah ok, so maybe that wasn’t as good as telling a cop or a priest or something like that but it was close enough.  While he would have to live with the poison for the rest of his long life he wouldn’t feel the need to discuss it with anyone again.  “If I feel the need you’ll be the last to know.”

Colleen let out a loud grunt and quickly folded her arms across her chest. “You’re a jerk.” She griped. “You’ve really thought this out, haven’t you? Big stupid idiot first time in your life you’ve thought about anything…”

“No matter what happened on the island you can trust me, I’m your Brother and I love you. I’m never going to do anything to hurt you or Lilly or Annie or….Mom,” his voice trailed off and he so wanted to qualify that sentence with the word ‘again’. So much so that it hung heavy in the close air of the Mustang.  “You’re my Family and I love you all of you.”  Pulling up to the on ramp now the car started picking up speed on the slick road. “Whatever happened it ain’t gonna happen again and that’s all you need to know. I know that’s askin’ a lot from you and everybody else.”

“But if you tell us then…well…loose lips sink ships, right?  The more people who know the more likely it is that someone will slip at some point.” There was a sick twisted logic in that but it didn’t quell her desire to know. “What if she remembers on her own?”

Looking back over his shoulder as the on ramp merged with the highway for any signs of oncoming traffic he said, “She won’t. Umpa gave her enough of that stuff to choke a horse.  She’s never gonna remember, Cole no matter how hard she might try.”

“That’s real convenient, ain’t it, Nicky?” Cole turned to look out the passenger’s window and realized that was the second time she’d asked him that just on this trip.  “I don’t wanna spend my life thinking you could do that.”

“Then don’t think about it anymore.” Was all the advice he had to offer.  “No matter what, you understand now that we have to convince Dad to get her out of here, don’t you?  She can’t stay here!”

That was the most sense he’d made in a long time. “Yeah,” Colleen agreed wiping away a few tears. “They’re not helping her.”

“No they’re not. They’re helping themselves at her expense we can’t let them do that anymore.  I’ve been telling you and Dad that for a week.” He had too. It was driving Nicholas crazy that no one would listen to him. In the day he went to school and then to work, in the evening he came home and did the family thing. After dinner he and Annie went down to the basement where they did homework and then worked on putting their marriage back together. After working and learning and talking all day through the night he was so tired he couldn’t see straight, his brain turned and burned and bubbled and boiled with more information, problems, questions and solutions than he could comprehend. Most of the time it made him want to scream.  At night when she was asleep at his side and lightly snoring Nick had to force his brain to shut off and his eyes to close.  Just as he’d drift off to sleep there she was. Mom. Huddled in the fucking corner on her knees facing the wall and rocking back and forth.  Mostly that was all she did but once or twice she tried to talk to him but it was more than emotions and her eyes…so sad and lonely they just begged for love and attention for someone to notice her and the pain she was in.  By the time he woke up invariably he would find himself in the middle of the bed on his knees with his arms wrapped around his upper body and rocking back and forth crying like a baby. So far the only small blessing was that Annie was a sound sleeper she had yet to catch him performing this rather bizarre ritual of sympathetic magick.  Sadness hung over his entire day. No matter what good news might come his way there was a pervasive black cloud hanging over him and his world any day now it was going to usher forth a thunderstorm of acid rain.

Time after time he tried to tell Daniel about it but Father and Son weren’t getting along and it was difficult enough just to live in the same house never mind to sit and eat at the same table.  He even tried his Uncle David who was more inclined to listen but didn’t now what to make of the situation.  Last night he finally turned to his Sister for help. “Do you believe me now?”

Colleen didn’t want to believe him. Like her Father she wanted to believe that the people, the professionals here were helping Calla to the very best of their ability. They were taking excellent care of her and would never even think of doing anything harmful.  What fools.  Mom and Dad made it so easy to forget, all of their lives they had gone out of their way—but not noticeably so—to make their lives normal.  To make the fact that Nick and Cole were ½ Olympian a silent almost non-existent fact.  But they were different than those around them. Umpa tried again and again to tell them that. As much as she hated him he was the counterpoint to their Mother who was always so peace-loving.  Ares always asserted he was on Earth for a reason that he had a purpose to serve and that he did it well, whether or not anyone liked that fact didn’t matter.  She thought he was arrogant then now she just thought he was right. “I believe you.”

“So are you with me?”

“I’m in.” Coley agreed. “If Dad won’t bring her home next week, if he says no, we’ll have to get her out ourselves. But we go to Dad…and Uncle David….first, you got that? We’ll sit them down and we’ll make them listen if we have to.”

There was another strained relationship. David thought Daniel was ignoring the problem and that he was drinking too much. Daniel made no bones about telling him to shut up and reminding him that he was living free on Daniel’s dime. Four days ago Uncle David got a job at a local garage fixing cars. Dad shut up about that one.  Fate asking them to share and to love the same woman it was ridiculous. Neither Nick nor Colleen could see how it would possibly work in the long run.  Having a handful of affairs was one thing but having a live-in Lover was something else.

Dad really thought she was better off here, if nothing else, he pointed out that she was safe there in her padded room and a lot closer than Indiana which was where Willie wanted to send her. Dad hadn’t said that he wouldn’t bring her home when he could but he didn’t say that he would either. Who could blame him? The climate was changing, no one could deny that and the outside world wasn’t safe for someone like her. It was logical and it had a side benefit; he didn’t have to deal directly with her because he was already going crazy with the hearings coming up and maybe Uncle David was right maybe Dad was drinking a little too much—though he’d promised Mom he wouldn’t. Uncle Jack had been trying to take it easy on him but the undeniable fact was that Dr. Daniel Jackson was an integral part of the SGC and SG-1 for over twenty years. As far as the People and the Government were concerning (at least for the benefit of said People) he had a lot to answer for. That had yet another down side. With Daniel being so high profile so was his family the press had already started reminding people that the wife of Dr. Daniel Jackson was one Calla Jackson a/k/a Callestah Artiste Extraordinaire not to mention lovely arm-piece and fuck toy of the late Andrew Fucking Hartley.  So far they didn’t report she was in mental institution….lucky break there.

The last few days things only got worse, Brigid was sick and Dad had to stay home with her yesterday and today. It was the first time he’d been left alone with an infant let alone a sick one he didn’t fair so well though Brigid, of course, was still very much alive and generally unharmed by the day with her father.

All around them it felt as though their whole worlds, everything they ever knew and were ever going to know was teetering on the edge of knife.  One light breeze and it would all topple over the edge of the abyss and no one knew how far down the bottom.

“Deal.” Nick agreed finally. “Tonight we lay it out for them. She can’t stay here.”

End Of Faded Rose
By Moon Mistress
Continue to
Beginning's End