Chapter Seven

When they returned to the Manor House Daniel and Calla realized they hadn’t been gone a few hours but a few days out here in the Mortal World. Two days as a matter of fact. It had been Wednesday morning when they left and here it was Friday evening when they returned. “Do you want to stay for the weekend?” Daniel asked. “We’ll go back on Monday.”

That sounded like a very lovely idea to her but, “We should go, we shouldn’t leave David in the house with the children.”

Calla had a strong point but so did he. “They’re not babies, Cal. If Davy tries anything stupid I’m sure Nick will put him in his place.” He looked over at her in her white brush-satin nightgown curled up on the floor by the fire. “That’s not really what you’re worried about is it? It’s Davy’s mouth that has you concerned.”

“Why did you say he could stay in our home?” She asked without looking up at him.

“I didn’t,” Daniel protested, “you did.”

“No,” now she turned to look up at him while he was making notes about Avalon. “I said he could live, you said he could stay in the house.”

“No, I didn—“ Daniel put the notebook down on his lap. Yes, he did say Davy could stay at the house, he remembered now. “I don’t know,” he offered. “I didn’t think. I’m sorry, honey.” Just because Calla said Davy could keep his rotten life didn’t mean she wanted to sit down to Sunday Dinner with him, now did it? Nor that she felt safe with him around.

“You want time with your brother, Daniel?”

Yeah, well, maybe a small part of him did want some time with Davy. Other than Calla and the kids, as rotten as he was Davy was the only family Daniel had. “Not at your expense, Kitty. If you want I’ll call Nick right now and tell him to throw his ass out.”

“Well,” she mumbled looking down at her hands which were neatly folded in her lap. “You don’t have to throw him out but, well, would you call?” Now she looked up at him. “If anything happened…they couldn’t get in touch with us while we were in Avalon. If I call Nicholas will think I’m just checking up on him.”

Daniel smirked and reached for his cell phone. “Come here, honey.” At first he thought she was going to sit on his lap like he wanted her to do but instead she settled on the floor at his feet and lay her head against his knee. “What else is wrong? Huh, baby?” Daniel reached down and stroked her hair. “You haven’t asked me yet. Are you afraid?”

Calla didn’t answer him instead she wrapped both arms around his calf.

“Listen to me, you were right, they did want me to allow a Sa’Tan for you. I gotta say, I don’t get it Kitty, I don’t understand why there should be two of us….”

“David, is that who they want?”

“The subject came up. I shot them down. Come up here.” Now she did sit on his lip with her head on his shoulder. “I refused to let them put someone between us. You’re my Wife. I’m your Husband and we don’t need anyone else, do we?”

“They were adamant?” She asked without answering him. Of course they had been!

“They were confused.” Daniel said easily. “I made them see that we’re better off if it’s just you and me.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” she mumbled. “You could have given up, you could have given in and let them name a Sa’Tan but you didn’t. That’s why you’re the new Keeper of the Sword, you’re supposed to use it in my defense…should you ever need to.” She tried to shirk off her words with a smile.

“I love you too. What are you thanking me for?”

“Not giving up on me.” Now her arms wrapped around his neck and she started to cry. “Being here with me and for never turning me away. For believing in me more than I believe in myself. I can be so unruly sometimes, Daniel.”

“I’ll always believe in you.” Calla’s ability to just forget the bad things always amazed him. The truth was that he hadn’t always been here with her and he had turned her away. Hell he practically turned her over to Andrew Fucking Hartley as a matter of fact. Daniel figured his being the new Keeper of Excalibur had something to do with keeping her out of Ares clutches but the truth of that was; if she ever decided to go to him on her own there wasn’t a damn thing that he or anyone else would be able to do about it. Still, Excalibur was a nice little artifact to display in the glass case in his office.

Years ago Maeve had been furious when she found out Daniel had a twin brother but the other three. “Why would they want Davy for that job?” Daniel asked. “Maeve hated the idea.” He tilted her face upward so he could look in her eyes. “In fact she was very upset when she found out about David.”

”Maeve was upset and they were happy for the same reason; because he’s you and you are him. The Ladies figure there is no difference, nothing to interfere with our marriage…”

“Nothing to…..whoa, they’re not very bright, are they?” He asked with a smile. “He’s not me, you know that Kitty.”

“I do.” She agreed and kissed his cheek. Calla didn’t want to follow this line of talk any more. “Did you find her beautiful?”

The subject changed quickly and without warning. That always meant she’d had enough and even if he pushed her he might not get anywhere. “Who?”

“The Lady Callestah,” she sighed. “I know you saw her. Did you find her beautiful?”

“Do I want her? Is that what you want to know?” Sitting there by the fire with the warm weight of her light body in his lap his cock twitched the way it had when his eyes were upon the Goddess. “What difference would it make, Kitty? She’s you. You’re her.”

“Only in as much as David is you.” Calla said sadly and climbed off his lap. “You impressed her in Avalon. Good for you, few people can do that.” Standing by the fire she held her hands out to the flames to warm them. The sadness in her voice faded away to nothing more than a conversational tone. “I think it’s time that you should call home, Daniel.”

Once again the sudden change of subject struck him this time it was compounded by that vagueness in her voice. The conversation was over, it shouldn’t be but it was. More secrets.

There were two vastly different women with vastly different needs sharing one body. Daniel was certain that wasn’t what Fate had in mind for her when she was born but all that she’d been through had split her into two, a divine version of Disassociative Identity Disorder or multiple personalities. The Lady Callestah, the Goddess who was pushy, arrogant and angry. Calla Jackson, the shy, demur, unassuming, talented, wife and mother. The woman who picked up spiders and put them outside when she found them in the basement rather than swat them.

That didn’t make her crazy, did it? Maybe that was part of the Sa’Tans job as well. Daniel pledged to always look over her, to protect her with his life. Now he knew he was supposed to be keeping her safe from Ares but, maybe, just maybe, he was also supposed to keep her safe from herself.

Or the Sa’Tan was, which Daniel was not. Daniel was Husband. It was all so sexist and it left a bad taste in his mouth as well as a knot in his stomach. Surely after all these years together he’d shown her a better way by now. There she was staring at him waiting not for him to say something but to use his phone and call home. If nothing else that was a good idea. Fishing the cell phone out of his pocket, Daniel saw there were four voice mails, all from Nicholas. The receiver on his phone was particularly loud and he didn’t want to upset Calla. “Excuse me, Cal.” Daniel said rising to his feet and slipping the cell phone back into his pocket. “I have to use the bathroom first, ok?”

In the bathroom he listened to the messages. In his deep and concerned voice Nicholas wanted to know when they were coming home and just what he should do about Uncle David who was starting to act as if he owned the place. And who, by the way, was very adept at lock-picking.

Lock-picking? That didn’t actually surprise Daniel any but he did want to know just which lock Davy had been caught picking. If he called from in here she’d hear him talking. Daniel flushed the toilet that he didn’t use and went back out to the bedroom. “Ok, all set now.” He said with a smile and phoned home.

Nicholas answered on the first ring. “Dad, where the hell are you? When are you coming home?”

“What’s goin’ on, Nick?” Daniel asked through tight lips.

“Mom there?”

“Right here, darling.” Calla said in a loud voice so that Nicholas could hear her even though she wasn’t holding the phone. “We’ll be home very soon. Is everything all right?”

Fuck! He wished Mom wasn’t in the same room with Dad, he had a lot to say and now it would have to wait. “I don’t know if I should tell you this or if Cole should but, Sandy’s family was wiped out in the attack.”

“Oh no,” Calla gasped holding the back of her hand to her mouth.

“Sandy?” Daniel asked.

“Ah-huh him too.”

“Lilly has no father.” There were tears in Callas’ eyes.

“She has us.” Daniel reminded her. “How’s your Sister doing?”

“Ok I guess, you know they weren’t very close anymore but still she’s upset.”

Daniel imagined she was. “Is she there?”

“No, she went out with Annie.” Nick lowered his voice hoping his Mother couldn’t hear. “I try and keep ‘em outta the house, ya know?”

“Keep her busy, that’s good.” Daniel agreed in a fairly loud voice knowing that wasn’t what Nicholas meant. He was keeping them away from Davy. “We’ll be home tomorrow Nick. I thought we’d stay the weekend but with this news I think its best if we come home as soon as we can.”

“Cole and Annie will be glad to hear that.” Nick said the relief was clear in his voice.

Calla snatched the phone away from Daniel without warning. “Nicholas. Is David behaving himself?”

Nick was surprised to hear his Mother’s voice so clearly. “I got it all under control, Ma, don’t worry.” He assured her.

“Colleen and Lilly must be very upset about Sandy.”

Four thousand miles way Nick rolled his dark eyes. “Cole cried a little but Lilly’s too little to understand, Ma. I took care of the Runt, don’t worry, she won’t miss Sandy that much. He was a real ass to both of them these last few months.” Nicholas reminded her hoping his Father would take the phone back.

“Why didn’t she call?” Calla asked quickly. “Where is she? I want to talk to her.”

Oh for cryin’ out loud! “She went out with Annie, I’m here with Lilly…who’s sleeping soundly.” He said quickly. “I got ev’r’thang under control, Ma.”

“David? Has he talked to you, tell me if he has.”

“No, Ma and even if he did I wouldn’t listen to him, ok? He’s spending most of his time in the basement but I got my eye on him. Put Dad back on the phone.”

“I love you, Nicholas.”

“Love you too, Ma.”

Calla handed the small phone back to Daniel and rested her head on his knee once more while letting out a heavy sigh. She knew she should go home and be with her children but she didn’t want to deal with David no matter how good he’d been lately. He was still one of the men who’d tricked her, hurt her, and taken her away from someone she loved. No matter how good he became or how hard he tried, Calla would never be comfortable around him. She thought that was very small of her, that she was the one who insisted he be given a second chance so she ought to be the one who offered the first olive branch to him.

Before Daniel could say anything Nick was whispering into the phone. “Go to the kitchen, go to the bathroom, tell her you have to check the house, just get out of the room for a few minutes.”

Daniel was taken a bit off guard by his Son’s request but soon recovered. “That’s a great idea, Nick.” He said as he smiled down at Calla. “I’m sure Annie will love it. Hold on a second, ok?” But Daniel didn’t wait for a reply. “You know, I’m kinda hungry, I think I’ll go down to the…”

“I’ll make you something,” before he knew it she was on her feet. Maybe Calla was looking for something to do. “What would you like?”

“Something sweet maybe?” He suggested knowing it would take her a few minutes to find something like that. There were plenty of staples in the house but not many munchie things.

“I’ll find something.” Calla wrapped the robe around her body and wasted no time fleeing the room and down the stairs to the kitchen where she could be useful.

“She’s gone, what’s going on, Nick?”

“Man, I dun even know how to say this!” Nick grumbled loudly.

“Just say it,” Daniel encouraged.

“Christ Dad! I caught him….in your room….” Nick stumbled, he knew the right words to say he was just having a hard time getting them out.

“David? What was he doing?”

“JERKING OFF!” Oh there! It was out and he felt soooo much better for it. He hadn’t told Annie or Cole just what he caught David doing but Nick figured that Cole had a good idea. “Three times! Every night since you been away. Jesus Christ Dad! He gets out them pictures of her, you know the ones, and her nightgown! Christ! I lock the freakin’ door and he picks it! You can’t let him near Mom. He’s sick.”

“What’d you do? Hit him? Tell him to get out?”

“Hell yeah I told him to get out. You know what he said? He said this is your house and….”

“Is he there?”

“Yeah.”

“Put him on the phone…right now.” Daniel was so angry he couldn’t see straight.

“Gladly,” Nick mumbled. “Uncle David!” He called out in a sing-songy voice. “Telephone.”

“Wot is it?”

“I told you….tel-a-phone.” Nick handed it out to the man who looked so much like his Father.

“Wot?”

“Get the fuck outta my house Davy! Do you understand me?” Daniel hissed.

“Hey! Danny! How are ya, boy?” Davy asked as he looked up at Nick who was staring back at him with a self-satisfied smile. “I-tell-yew-wot, we’ll talk ‘bout dat when yew git home, when yew think that’ll be?”

“Get the fuck out,” he said through gritted teeth, “or I’ll have Nick beat you bloody, do you understand?”

“Aw, c’mon, nah, Danny. Yew dun wanna be ‘sponsible for da boy beatin’ on his own pawh….dew ya?” Davy said slyly and that smile faded from Nick’s lips. “Nah, nun a’ us wants dat.”

“What do you want, Davy?”

“Ah, hey, nah sah ya dew know’d yer old’a bruther aft’a all, dun’cha, Danny?”

“What do you want?” Daniel barked. “Don’t you dare say Calla or either of MY kids, I’ll kill you myself, Davy.”

“Ya already did dat, Danny, ‘memba?” Davy laughed.

“You liar, you don’t love her.”

“Aww, nah, dun start dat, Danny. Yew make me mad cuz dat ain’t true, I dew love Callie, mo’ than yew’d ever think.” David fished a Marlboro out of his pocket and lit. He’d been smoking in the house since he got here even though he’d been told several times to knock it off, Davy didn’t care. “But a man has gots ta survive in dis here cruel world sah I-tell-yew-wot, I reckon you should think ‘bout jus’ how much yew loves Callie and, ah, jus’ how far yer willin’ to go fer dat lady ‘a yours. Sah, wot you say, Danny? We’ll see ya, wot? Tamarra?”

“What the fuck do you want, Davy?!” Daniel shouted into the phone.

“Yep, tamarra then. See ya Danny.”

The phone went dead in Daniel’s hand. “Shit.” Daniel hit ‘redial’ Nick answered.

“It’s all right, Dad, he went back downstairs.”

“You sure you’re all right, Nick? Tell me.”

“Yeah I’m fine.” He said. “But, if you could, would you tell Mom I’m sorry that I was such an asshole to her. I can really see her point about him now.”

“You’ll tell her when we get home until then just stay out of his way and I’ll deal with him tomorrow.” Well, so much for thinking that Davy’s time in Hades had changed him or that there was something they could salvage of their brotherhood. All Daniel wanted now was David out of his house and out of their lives for good. Whatever it took to accomplish that was ok with him, in fact he’d do it with a smile.

“You don’t understand, Dad, I was a real fuckin’ prick to her.” The sorrow was clear in his voice. “Do you think she’ll ever forgive me? Even if he is….she’s right, he’ll never be you. He’ll never be my Dad. I’m sorry to both of you.” In between keeping Uncle David out of Daniel and Calla’s bedroom and keeping an eye on the house, Nicholas snuck into his Father’s office several times to use the computer there and to watch the files he’d saved. At first and for many months after Andrew F. Hartley put calliendanny.com back on the Internet Nicholas had been really pissed off at his Mother. That was mostly just for not knowing the difference between Uncle David and Dad. To him it was clear in his mind; his Mother was cheating on his father. He was pissed off at her for not telling Uncle David to leave her alone. He thought she liked it but the more he got to know his Uncle and the more he watched those files Nicholas became aware that his Mother was telling him to stop, she just wasn’t saying it out loud. Sometimes the camera caught her face and sometimes it didn’t. When it did, now that he was watching closer, he saw that she was crying below him and begging him to leave her alone. Maybe it was himself he was really angry at, for being conceived in rape and not being there for her, for his own Mother, who never once turned her back on him not even when he really deserved it. Still he was angry at her, how could not know that guy wasn’t Daniel Jackson? Then, in the dark one night, it came to him; if she didn’t know there were two of them then she had no reason to suspect the man making her cry wasn’t Daniel Jackson. If she didn’t know then it wasn’t her fault that David Jackson took advantage of her, it was Daniel Jackson’s fault. Why Dad didn’t tell Mom about his twin brother might be as simple as the fact that no one would want to own up to the fact that David was their relative. “Tell her, please Dad, tell her she don’t gotta explain nuttin’ to me. I was an ass, I was so far outta line to demand she tell us all about her life. She got a right to her privacy and if she dun wanna tell us stuff, damnit she dun have’ta. Mom loves me and Cole, all ‘a us, that’s enough. I dun need ta know no more. I’m sorry, Dad, yu’ll make sure she knows?” Nicholas was crying now. “I’m an ass.” He repeated. “I must be his Son. Why else would I treat her like dat? I ain’t never gonna be like him…or Umpa.”

As the tears came to his eyes Daniel wished with all his heart that Calla could hear Nicholas right now. Daniel had never been more proud of him. Yep, his boy was really growing up and becoming a very fine man—maybe in spite of his parentage. “I love you, Nick. You’ll always be my Son, no matter what. Your Mother loves you and your Sister more than anything in this world, she really did wait a very long time for the two of you…and for me.” He mumbled that last part and Nick almost didn’t catch it.

“I just wish she trusted us, why doesn’t she, Dad?”

“She does.” Daniel reassured him. “If I know her, she doesn’t want to burden you and Cole, that’s all Nick. She doesn’t keep secrets because she doesn’t love you, she keeps them because she does… more than you’ll ever know.” And a light bulb went off in his head. Yeah, that was exactly why she kept her mouth shut so often. Daniel looked up as the bedroom door opened before he could say anything else. Calla came in with a large pink box in her hands. “What have you got there, Kitty?” Daniel said in a voice that he hoped sounded strong and casual.

“Cheesecake.” She said with a devilish grin.

“Where did you get that?”

“In town, there’s a lovely little café that makes this heavenly cheesecake and I thought you might like it.” She settled the box down on the table between the two soft chairs. “This too.” Calla put a can of whipped cream next to the box. She didn’t have to be a mind reader to know that the small can brought the same passionate memories to his mind as it did to hers.

A few thousand miles away on the other end of the phone Nick smiled and couldn’t back the laugh. “I guess you’re just about to be busy, Dad, don’t worry I got everything under control here. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, good night, Nick.”

“Good night, Nicholas.” Calla called toward the phone just before Daniel clicked it shut. “I paid for it.” She said quickly. “I did, I left money.” Calla lifted the top of the box to reveal one very thick and luscious looking cheesecake topped with dark chocolate.

“I believe you.” Daniel said with a smile. If he knew her she probably left a little note too; I was hungry, took one of your cheesecakes. I’m very sorry. Here’s X amount of dollars for your troubles. Christ, knowing her, she probably even signed it! The smile on his face grew wider as he slipped the cell phone back into his shirt pocket. “I guess the only thing left is to eat it.”

“The fun part.” She cooed.

“You know I always do like the fun parts the best.” He held his arms out to her and Calla came to him just as she always did she wrapped her arms around him and held him close to her. “I love you.” He whispered in her ear. “What’d you have in mind with that whipped cream? You know we can’t….”

“Please?”

“No. You know what the doctor said.” He said and she pulled away from him. “It doesn’t mean that I don’t love or that I don’t want you.”

Calla thought about it for a moment. “It means that you do.”

“Twenty years…gee, I think she’s finally catching on.” Daniel smiled at her.

“We can do other things,” she offered quickly but then back peddled, “if you want, I mean, we don’t have to if you don’t…..”

“Oh shut up,” his lips closed down over hers. It had been days since they last made love, somewhat of a record for them…well what with both of them having been on the same planet during the entire time and all. Those lips were just as warm and inviting as he remembered them to be. As welcoming as they always were. In this whole sorry mess Daniel knew three things;

She loved him

He loved her

Third, that the first two were all he needed to know

“I’ll always want you.” Daniel said. “No need to ask twice.” He brushed the graying hair away from her face and watched her eyes follow it and then she frowned.

“I tried to bring it back but it won’t….” she shrugged her shoulders. “I look so old now, I’m sorry. I’ll try and color it when we get home.”

Daniel shook his head and leaned his head back away from her to take a good look at her beautiful face. “Nope, I like it.” He said sincerely. “You don’t look old at all. It sort of suits you, Cal.” Daniel ran his fingers through it picking up big handfuls and slowly letting her auburn/gray tresses spill back down around her face and shoulders.

“I don’t look like an old witch? You know the type we see at Halloween?”

“Never.” He chimed as he looked up at her sitting on his lap, which was starting to twitch and tingle. Her hair was a mess it was sort of wild and free as it framed her in the firelight. She never looked more beautiful to him. “C’mere,” Daniel invited, “give Daddy some more sugar.”

“Oh you,” she cooed and blushed. “I love you, Daniel. What would I ever do without you?”

“You took the words right outta my mouth.” It was funny how all those months they’d spent apart just faded away in such a short time. Antoinette, Andrew F. Hartley, drugs, alcohol, all of it, it just didn’t matter anymore and with any luck at all it never would again.

Hopefully a tiny baby girl, who at this very moment was sleeping soundly nestled deep in the arms of the God of War, would not force them apart once more. Nor would Davy or idea that she might snap one day from all the pressure. Calla’s life had not take the path Fate meant for her, even he was standing in the way of that, he was stopping her from Becoming that Olympian Mother Goddess by keeping her at his side instead of letting her go to Ares. There was nothing he could about that because it was far too late to change of it and Daniel would do anything to hold onto her now, anything at all.

“Are you all right, Beautiful?” Calla asked as she climbed into the big feather bed. “You look so far away. Please come back to me.”

“I’m right here.” He told her. Tomorrow he’d face David and maybe even Ares but tonight it was just the two of them so to hell with the rest of the world. “Come on, let’s bring this over to the bed.”

One box of cheesecake.

One can of whipped cream.

One deeply in love married couple.

“Oh good, now about those things that we can do…..what did you have in mind?”

“Why don’t we just have a little of this,” he dipped a fork into the rich cake and brought it to her lips, “we’ll just see where the night takes us.”

“Sounds divine. You always do have the best ideas.” It was her turn to feed him just like they did on their wedding day. While this night was not as eventful as that night had been it did not lack for passion or pleasure. Soon they would make love again but for now she would find other ways to please him and to her delight he would find a few to please her.

End Of
The Cradle Will Fall: Sentimental Journey
by
Moon Mistress

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