Chapter One

Gonna take a sentimental journey
Gonna set my heart at ease
Gonna make a sentimental journey
To renew old memories
Performed by Doris Day
Written by Bud Green, Les Brown and Ben Homer
Copyright 1944

Although the plan had been for all of them to return to 1 North Cemetery Drive together, Daniel and Calla never made it the house. Instead, before they could leave the grounds of the SGC, good old Doc Adams stopped them and insisted upon examining Calla. Calla discussed it with Daniel, she didn’t like the idea but, not knowing the extent of the Xerinium she’d absorbed while defending Duncan MacLeod—who was in turn defending her—and not knowing what Eros put in the water he gave her, they thought it best to let Adams take a look at her since Calla wouldn’t let Colleen help her.

Jack was already gone and those few remaining on the base were shell shocked and wounded as they stumbled around. Nicholas was out of the question, Calla would not allow him into the examination room. That left Daniel with David. That wasn’t a thought Daniel Jackson relished in the slightest but having Davy for back-up was better than no back-up at all should Adams do something not in line with being a good doctor.

While Calla lay still and quiet on the examine bed with her feet up in the stirrups and a sheet draped over her, Adams between those firm raised legs, Davy and Danny stood guard, but not before Daniel made damn good and sure Adams was wearing two gloves.

Standing off in the corner quietly observing the scene was David. He did not know why he had been asked to come in here and observe such a personal procedure, especially not given his history with Callie. Still there he stood and he was waiting should the need arise. After what Danny said, Davy was very ready to tackle the doctor who had molested Callie earlier.

Daniel sat beside her holding her hand for what seemed like forever before Adams was done and proclaiming 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.

Daniel explained it as best and easily as he could and at first he thought she was going to refuse to let Adams do it but she just nodded her head and then wept during the procedure, which thanks to Modern Medical Science didn’t take very long. All Daniel could do was to stand there holding her hand and share the grief that weighed down both of their hearts.

David stood off in his corner looking ashamed.

It was Daniel who felt the real guilt and shame. The whole time she was suffering and being examined--the whole goddamn time! In the back of Daniels’ 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 there was a glass partition between them 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 and as much a she always wanted her—it was still the last thing on his mind. Daniel was too numb for anything like sex and Calla was too hurt, physically and mentally. There were just too many secrets, too many lies and too much unfinished business between everyone in the Jackson family. Daniel thought it a stupid and crass thing for the doctor to tell him. But tried to remind himself that the ‘good doctor’ was only doing what was right by his patient.

Adams rifled around in his medical cabinet and handed over a bottle of prescription pain killers. “I know she has problems with these, but, Daniel, she’s in a lot of pain. One every six hours or so for the next few days or so, all right?”

Daniel agreed then looked through the glass partition. Davy was helping her off the table and into that damn robe. Stupid fucking bloody robe! 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.

“Yeah, ok.” Daniel stuffed the bottle in his pants pocket. “I have to find her something else to wear.”

“You go on, I want to talk to her anyway.”

Down the hall in some supply closet, past the broken bloody bodies of a dozen SGC members, Daniel found a bunch of new uniforms and looked through them for one in Calla’s small size. No luck. The one they had which actually fit her—the one she’d worn to the Mohun planet so many years ago—had been tailor made for her. He grabbed the smallest one he could find and made his way back to Adam’s office.

Rounding the corner deep in thought about Enya’s baby and what he was going to do, he suddenly heard Calla screaming and Daniel broke out into a run all thoughts of possible infidelity and the parentage of the new baby dispersed from his mind. Davy’s voice was raised he was telling the doctor to get away from her. Nicholas was barging into the room ahead of Daniel and before Daniel could get into the room he heard the unmistakable sound of someone hitting the floor. Annie was in the hall sitting next to Colleen who was holding Lilly close to her body stood up. “Stay there.” Daniel said without stopping before pushing his way inside he found Dr. Adams rising from the floor nursing a sore jaw courtesy of Nicholas. David had his arms around Calla and was telling her everything was ok that doc wasn’t gonna hurt her. “What the hell is going on?” Daniel demanded to know and was told that all of the commotion was over a syringe.

Adams explained to all in the room that he wanted to take a blood sample from her and run a few tests on it along with the samples he’d taken from inside her. At the sight of the needle Calla lost it. Daniel shot Davy a glaring look, Davy took his hands off Calla, raised them in the air and stepped away. “Jus’ tryin’ ta hep’, Danny.”

Calla was shaking and looked as though she was about to crawl out of her skin when Daniel put his arm around her shoulders and knelt beside her.

“I’ll be good,” she mumbled, “Kume, sah’taha. Kume. Kume Naganti Daniel.”

“I know you will, Kitty, you’re very good.” He soothed. “Look at me, he wants to use the needle to…”

“Cohanze! Sah’tah, Naganti Daniel.” Calla struggled to get out of the chair but Daniel held her there. “Kume!”

“Dad what language is that?” Nicholas asked as he came and knelt next to her. “What’s she saying?”

“Ah, it’s, ah, Shankuk.” Daniel told him. Over and over she just kept mumbling her promise that she’d be good, so good, please Master Daniel, I promise….over and over until he thought he couldn’t take it anymore. Daniel drew in a breath and grabbed hold of himself and her hands. “Adams isn’t going to inject you with anything. OK?” She didn’t answer she went right on shaking and mumbling her promise to behave herself. “Show her the damn thing.” He hissed at Adams.

“Look Calla, it’s just the needle” Adams held up the syringe so she could see it and reached behind him for an empty vial which he held up in the other hand. “I’m just going to take a little blood, that’s all. I’m not gong to put any drugs in you.” Finally she sat still enough to let him take one vial but that was it, she wouldn’t allow him to take anymore.

“Everybody out,” Daniel said when Adams was finished. “Just…get out.” He said again when none of them moved. One by one they filed through the door leaving them alone. Calla reached her arms out to him and he hugged her tightly. “I love you, Cal.”

“I’m sorry, I know you’re angry….”

“Stop right there. I’m not angry with you I know it isn’t your fault you lost the baby. You wanted him as much as I did, I know that.”

“I did.” She confessed. “More than that, I wanted to…to…I don’t know, I don’t what I wanted, Daniel.”

“Yes you do. You wanted to share it with me, hum?” He brushed the strands of silver/gray hair away from her face. “You wanted to know what that was like. So did I.”

Calla sniffed back the tears and nodded her head, that was exactly what she wanted to know what it was like to be pregnant and give birth to a child whose father was elated at the prospect just like Daniel had been. “I let you down, I’m so sorry, my Husband.”

“You didn’t let me down.” Daniel whispered. She looked so tired and worn all he wanted to do was get her home but…….

It felt like she let him down, as though she’d let the entire planet down. Not only did she lose their Son but she failed to stop the attack. That brought her mind back to another subject. “I have to take Excalibur back to Avalon.” Her hand squeeze tightly around his. “You have to come with me, they want to meet you.”

Oh Christ. “They?”

“The Ladies of Avalon, Nimue, Morgan Le Fey and Covetina.” Calla looked away from him while she made a tiny confession. “I broke my promise to you. They wanted me to bring you before them, they demanded it, but time was so short, Daniel, I just couldn’t come back to get you. I’m very sorry.”

“Yeah, I know it was,” he sighed. “Stay right there for a minute, ok? Just right there.” Daniel stood up and went out into the hall to talk to his Son.

“Are you sure, Dad?”

“Yeah, just do it for me, all right?”

“Yeah, no problem.” Nicholas answered and kissed Annie’s cheek. “I’ll be right back.” He disappeared from the silent bloody hallway only to reappear a few moments later. “All good.” He pronounced. “Still standing and doesn’t look like it’s been touched.”

“Good.” Was all he said before going back into the examination room where Calla was waiting for him. “What do you say we go to Scotland?”

“Yes, that’s what I said.” She was sliding the black t-shirt over her head.

“No, I mean, to the house for a little while before we go to Avalon.”

Still pulling the oversized khakis up to her waist she stopped and looked at him with wide eyes. In them was the smallest glimmer of a light that he hadn’t seen since she left with Duncan MacLeod. “Do you mean it? We could go and stay…..”

“Sure,” Daniel interrupted. “I’ll take us, you’re too tired.”

“We have to go home…we have to…..”

“The kids will take care of whatever needs to be done at the house.”

“David?” She asked in a cautious voice while she did the zipper and button. The light in those beautiful green eyes faltered.

“He can stay at the house while we’re gone.” Daniel said through gritted teeth. “I’m sure Nicholas….” That faltering light turned dark as it flashed in her eyes. It was very clear Calla did not want David to have any alone time with Nicholas. Sooner or later all secrets would out. “I’m sure the kids will keep an eye on him, they can handle him.”

Calla nodded her head. “Hum.” She muttered quickly.

“Good, you finish getting dressed I’m gonna tell them.” He pointed toward the door and left her alone in the room. “Davy,” Daniel said sharply.

Davy’s head popped up. “Yeah, Danny?” He asked coming over to where Danny was standing. “Wot’s up?”

“Listen to me, Calla and I are going away for a few days. You can stay at the house as long as you behave yourself.” He stressed those words as much as he could. “I swear to God Davy if you say anything to the kids….”

Davy smiled a wide wicked little grin. “I gota dis one, if I say any’tang, you’ll…um…cut of my head and sheet down ma throat. How’dat?”

“Pretty fucking close.” Daniel muttered. “So we’re clear, we understand each other?”

“Yep, I su’pos we dew.” Davy said. “Dun worry Danny, there’s lots a thangs to clear up and say but, ah, I ain’t gonna dew nuttin’ stupid…well, not ‘til yew come back. A’ight?” Davy held out his hand.

Rolling stomach or not the man in front of him was still his brother, Daniel shook on it. “Deal.”

“Dad, what’s goin’ on?” Nick asked. “Mom a’…” he cleared his throat, “Is Mom all right?”

“Good as it gets at the moment, Nick.” Daniel told him and tried to smile. “We’re going to Scotland for a day or two.” He motion with his index finger for Nick to follow him away from Davy. “While we’re gone, he’s going to stay at the house…”

“He’s gonna do what?”

“Keep on an eye on him and the girls. He steps out of line once, Nick, toss his ass out. Do you understand? Just one little step over the line.”

From the tone in Dad’s voice Nick thought he was almost wishing for that to happen. “Whatever you do don’t listen to him. We’ll all have a long discussion as soon as your Mother’s ready but until then….”

“Don’t worry, Dad, if he opens his mouth I’ll shut it for him.”

“That’s my boy.” Daniel said with a smile. The door behind them opened and Calla came out into the hall wearing the loose fitting uniform the khaki pants of which slid down to her hips and were stopped from sliding completely off her slender body only by that firm round ass of hers. One half-hearted yank would bring those pants down to her ankles. “Say good-bye, Calla.”

Nicholas bent down and hugged her. “I love you Mom. I’m worried about you, so you get some rest ok, I’ll take care of everything here so you don’t have to worry.”

Colleen came over to them with Lilly in her arms, Calla peeked into the blanket at the sleeping baby. “I’m so happy for both of you. Your Great-Grandfather is good for some things.” She tried to smile. “It’s good that he brought them back to you, they’re really both very precious.” Calla glanced over her shoulder at Annie who was still sitting in one of the plastic chairs in the hall. “I’m so glad you don’t have to b…” on the verge of tears again she stopped and held herself back. “Take care of them.”

“We will, Mom.” Colleen held one arm out to her for a hug but Calla backed away. “Mom?”

“Not yet,” she mumbled. “Just in case, you understand don’t you, Coley? It’s not that I don’t want to embrace you or Lilly but we just…well…we just don’t know and I can’t stand the thought of putting either of you in danger.”

“Soon, Mom?” She asked with hopeful eyes. “You’re not going to avoid hugging us forever, are you?”

“Oh, well that would be dreadful so I certainly hope not.” She blew Coley and the baby a kiss. “I still love you.”

“Love you too, Mom.” Coley said disappointed that she wouldn’t be getting a hug but understanding her Mother’s reasons. “How about you? You’ll hug me won’t you?”

“You know I will.” Daniel told her and embraced her in his arms along with baby Lilly. “Help your Brother while we’re gone.” He whispered. “I love you, Cole.” Stepping back from her Daniel turned his attention to his Wife. “Come on, Kitty, take my hand, let’s get outta here for a while.” Daniel held his open palm to her and Calla slid her hand into it.

“Wait, gonna need this.” Nick said grabbing the sword and handing it his Mother. “See you both soon.” Bending deeply at the waist he kissed her cheek.

Wrapping her hand around the hilt Calla mumbled, “Thanks.”

“See ya Dad.” Nick said.

Daniel gave a little wave as he and Calla faded from view.

“Geez do I feel guilty,” Coley admitted and rested her head against Nicholas’ arm. “Aw, Nicky that shouldn’t have happened to them.”

“I know, Runt, I feel guilty too” He confessed looking over at Annie who was waiting for him with a worried look on her pretty face. “Mom wouldn’t want that. She loves Annie and she just adores Lilly, Mom’s happy for us so let’s try and shake it off, ok?”

“I dunno,” Coley whispered, “did you see her face?” Cole dropped her blue eyes and looked around to see who might be listening because this was one of those big secrets Mom was supposed to reveal to them when she was feeling up to it. “This isn’t the first baby she’s lost.” Nicholas’ eyes narrowed on her. “What she said…when we were all….never mind.” She shook her head. “I’m probably wrong.”

Well if Nick knew one thing it was that Colleen’s intuition was usually right on the money. “What are you saying? She’s had other kids besides us? We got siblin’s out there somewhere? Or that we had a sibling?”

“It just seemed like both of them had a lot of hopes riding on our new Brother, that’s all.” Colleen was suffering from second thoughts. If this was one of those secrets then who was she to spill the beans? Maybe there weren’t any other kids of Daniel and Calla Jackson, maybe Mom wanted the new baby to cement her relationship with Dad again. They had been apart a long time, so long that Cole and Nick thought they’d never put it back together.

Nicholas couldn’t argue with that, Mom and Dad had been really excited about this baby. Good old Uncle….”Ya know Eros said something strange too,” Nicholas mumbled. “He said that Dad killed him about ten minutes before you and I were born.”

“Did you know Mom thought Dad was dead when she was pregnant with us?”

“Huh? N-No.” More secrets more lies and more questions. If someone didn’t start talking very soon the entire thing was going to boil over like a pot of unwatched pudding. It would bubble and spurt and finally ooze down the sides burning everything it touched and sticking to the pan leaving it scorched and ruined, ready to be thrown out. “Look Runt,” Nick managed one of those charming smiles of him, “ we gotta keep an eye on him,” he tossed his head in David’s direction “while they’re gone. OK, that’s what we gotta do right now. Coley he comes near you, you tell me right away, got that? I’m not gonna take any shit from him.” More secrets. Nicholas thought of how odd it was that just a little while ago he was practically arguing with his Mother over who his Father was and telling them both that it didn’t matter but now standing here looking at him finally being able to take in how spooky the resemblance between David—who should probably look his 54 years—and Daniel was and not just that but, well there was just something about the guy that rubbed Nick the wrong way. Maybe, before all was said and done, Nicholas would discover that he did mind being that guy’s son after all.

“Yeah, big guy, I got it.”

End Chapter One Of
The Cradle Will Fall: Sentimental Journey
Continue to
Chapter Two

This story and all stories in the Cradle Will Fall series are copyrighted to Lisa Beth Darling these stories may not be transferred outside of this URL in any fashion.