Chapter Eleven

Take, take me home
Cause I don’t remember
Take, take me home
Take me home
Phil Collins

Upon reaching the open space in the rocks and coming out into the sunlight Daniel Jackson woke up beside a blazing fire in his old living room at 1313 Mockingbird Lane with his wife in his arms. Nicholas was standing next to him and Ares was on the floor holding his Daughter.

“She’s always saving your ass,” Ares whispered from the other side of her.

“Dad,” Nicholas said happily and knelt by Daniel’s side. “You made it.”

“Calla?” Daniel reached out for her.

“She’s alive, Dad, she’s breathing.”

“Thank you.” Daniel wasn’t sure just who he was thanking, God he supposed, all he knew was that he was extremely grateful to have her back in his arms.

In a flash of soft purple light Colleen appeared in the room. “Is it over?” She asked with a voice that was just as frightened as her eyes. “Is Mom…”

“So far so good,” Daniel said and motioned for her to come over and join the family. “She’s breathing, she’s back here with us. Are you ok, pumpkin? Did you see it?”

“Some of it,” Colleen said and started to cry as she reached out for her Dad. “Mom really loves you.” Cuddling up between him and Nicholas she looked at both of them. “Why didn’t you call me?”

“There wasn’t time, Cole.” Nick said in a soothing voice.

“That’s not it,” she said, “everyone thinks I’m just a little girl. Does this look like a little girl to you?” She pointed at her burgeoning belly. “I can help her.”

Ares raised his head. “How?”

“I can heal her body.” Colleen told them. “I wish I could take the poison out of her but I can’t.” And the hand that had been pointing to her belly now caressed it. “I’m afraid it will hurt the baby if I try to take that out of her.”

Daniel nodded his head. “I don’t want you or the baby hurt.”

“I know Dad. I can do this without hurting her. It’ll take some of Mom’s pain away, at least the physical stuff. Don’t say no, ok?”

The three men glanced from one to the other and with their eyes came to an agreement. Daniel tired and sore rolled off the makeshift bed and Colleen moved in to take his place. She smiled down at her Mother as she took the animal skins away and Calla’s battered body was illuminated the fires’ glow. “I’m sorry you ever got this low, Mom. Things should never get this bad, you should tell someone.” Colleen kissed Calla’s cheek. “We love you, we don’t think you’re weak. We just want to help. So let me, ok?” The lips on Calla’s cheek began to glow with a beautiful light, soon Colleen radiated with it from the top of her head to her fingertips, down that round belly and over her legs. Everywhere she touched Calla the wounds healed without leaving a trace behind. Calla’s little breasts were perky and perfect. The short strawberry blonde hair turned auburn and grew long before their eyes. Mangled right hand healed over and the knotted scars on her back vanished. When Colleen held her hands on that bare patch between Callas’ legs Daniel hoped with all his heart that her magick worked and that it was permanent. Calla should never have to bare those marks again. After a few moments the energy faded back into Colleen who sat stroking Callas’ hair. “She’s very tired, she’s going to sleep for a while.” She said as she turned around to look at her Father. “I think she wants you to take her home.”

“Good because that’s where I want her.”

“I know why you can’t heal her anymore, Dad.” Colleen sat up on the little bed and reached for Nicholas to help her to her feet. “It’s because you can’t love her with a Mortals’ Heart anymore….not now since you’re Immortal. The rules are different now, Dad, I’ve been trying to tell you that.”

“Did she….”

“Know?” Ares asked as he took Colleen’s place on the bed and watched the anger flash in Jackson’s eyes. “Of course she knew she was giving up her lifeline.”

“And you, Umpa.” Colleen turned around with her hands on her hips. “I know why you were so mean to her.” Her lips pursed and she looked as though she were about to spit on the God of War.

“Do tell, Little One.” Ares invited.

“Because you didn’t want her to feel guilty when it was over.” She smiled as her Grandfather’s face fell a bit. “In that warped head of yours you figured if you took instead of letting her give then later on she could blame you for all of it. And so could you.” Now she turned to face her Father. “It’s the same reason she didn’t want you to remember those women. Even though she was so hurt by it, she was damn convinced you didn’t love her anymore but still, she didn’t want you to feel guilty.”

“Well, just like your Mother, aren’t you?” Ares asked.

“Yeah, when she’s right, she’s right.” Daniel returned. “I do love her.”

“I know, Dad.”

“We all do.” Nick said. “Just maybe you both forgot that for a little while.”

“I guess we did.” Daniel agreed.

“They’re going to hug and blubber again, Daughter.” Ares whispered in her ear. “You know how I hate that. I love you.” He kissed her cheek. “She’s still got a long row to hoe.” Ares said to those in the room. “It’s not over, not just yet.”

I don’t know what a Goddess with the DTs looks like but I’ll bet it’s not pretty. That’s what Adams said to him. But that was all right, he’d done a lot of research, a lot of reading and lot of talking with Annie. He was ready and he had a nice quiet place all picked out and waiting for them.

Tonight she would sleep safe and sound in THEIR bed but tomorrow night she would wake up far away from here. Daniel didn’t want to think about that just now, she was here and that was enough. Now they could start to put things right.

“Let’s go home.” Daniel said and keeping her wrapped in one of the wolf hides he scooped Calla up from the bed.

“I’ll take ya.” Nick returned. “You clean this up.” He said to his sister.

“And do what with it?” Colleen asked.

“I dunno, what’d ya do with Hartley’s body? That is what took you so long, isn’t it?” Nick asked.

Colleen tossed her head from side to side and smiled. “I took him to the Hudson River and dumped him in.”

“Nice,” Nick remarked with a smile. “Dump this shit in with him and then come home.”

“Why do I have to clean up?” Colleen groused.

“You two….just quit it, you’re giving me a headache. I’ll drive her back in the car, you two get rid of this shit and then you both come home, ok?”

“Dad….” Nick started to protest.

“I want the time with her, Nick, even if she is asleep.” There was the very near future to think about. “Nick, there’s a box downstairs it’s full of…”

“Drugs,” Nick finished.

“Yeah you can either bring it out to the car or you can bring it home with you.”

“I’ll bring it with me.” Nick nodded his head even though he didn’t like the idea but Mom was too far gone to attempt to quit cocaine, heroine and the rest Cold Turkey. She had to come down slow and easy in a controlled environment and that was what Dad had in mind. The three of them had already been over this part and come to a plan—should she ever come home that was and she had.

Mom needed the quiet, the space and the solitude. The three of them figured the world would think she’d vanished and that would be good she’d have time to relax, to adjust and come back to herself. They didn’t now how this would affect her New York opening or the Art Auction a few weeks later and none of them gave a shit, especially now that Hartley was dead, who knew if those two events would even take place now.

Colleen came forward and wrapped her arms around both of her parents before Daniel walked out of the living room, through the kitchen, out the sun porch and to the hatchback where the keys were still in the open hatch. “That’s my wife,” he chuckled and slid her onto the passenger’s seat. “Time to go home, Kitty.”

Halfway back to the house, the heat in the car on full blast because it was cold and she was naked, the radio softly playing some oldies tune, and Daniel didn’t give a damn about the seat belt laws tonight as she lay across the front seat with her head nestled in his lap. One hand on the wheel and the other stroking the top of her sleeping head he drove them back to the house. Callas’ eyes rolled open and she looked up at him. Her hand reached out to touch his arm as he drove and he smiled when he looked down at her. “Daniel?”

He couldn’t blame her for having a second or ten of doubt on that one. “Yeah, Kitty, it’s me, Daniel. You’re safe, you’re alive and we’re on our way home.” Before he could say anything else she was out again.

The little hatchback pulled into the driveway and Annie opened the front door. “Mrs. J!” She called out when Daniel took her out of the car. “Is she all right?”

“She will be Annie. Nick and Cole are on their way home any minute now.”

“I’ll help you get her upstairs.” Annie dashed back into the house and up the stairs ahead of him so she could open their bedroom door, get the suitcases Colleen dropped off earlier out of the way and get the covers turned down so Doctor J could slide her in without waking her. “She looks ok,” Annie said as Daniel laid her down.

“You don’t know the half of it,” Daniel remarked and looked down at his wife. She looked a thousand per cent better than she did a little while ago but she was still frail and pale. “What’s that stuff?” Daniel asked as he looked down at the two big brown suitcases, he turned the tags over; Callestah they read.

“I dunno, Coley took Mr. Hartley….well…his….body,” she stuttered, “away. When she came back she had that stuff with her. She dropped it off here and then went to you.”

Colleen dumped him in the Hudson River it looked like she also popped into Hartley’s brownstone to retrieve anything that belonged to Calla. Girl had guts just like her Mother. “See you I the morning, ok Annie?”

“Yeah,” Annie returned with wide eyes and a kind smile. She bent down and kissed the top of Calla’s head. “Welcome home,” she whispered, “we missed you. If you need any help, ya know, just tell me.” She said to Daniel.

“Thanks Annie. Why don’t you go off to bed? Nicholas will be here any second.” It was obvious to him that the young girl was very hesitant about leaving her Mother in-law. Annie wanted to do more than sit idly by and watch, she wanted to help, she wanted to something. “You know Annie, you could do me a really huge favor.” Daniel led.

“What’s that?”

“While you’re in the basement you could go through the boxes and pull out the clothes and things she’s going to need.” He looked at the suitcases again. There was little chance that anything clothing in there was something Calla was going to want to keep or even wear when she was well again. Besides, now that her breasts were back to the smaller size he liked those stupid tops Hartley had her in wouldn’t fit anyway. Not doubt those suitcases were full of designer duds so maybe Colleen would like some of that stuff it would look good on her when she got her figure back.

“You’re still going?”

“Yep, I think its best so does Nick and Cole. Not you, huh?”

“Whatever you want, Doctor J. I’ll go through the clothes and start packing.”

“Thanks Annie.” Daniel watched her walk out the bedroom door.

All of Callas’ things were still packed away in boxes in the basement tonight, she had no nightgown so Daniel slipped one of his flannel shirts onto her before bringing the blankets over her. He didn’t think he’d have to start dealing with the DTs until tomorrow given the massive amount of smack and junk she’d put into herself tonight but she was already starting to shake a little bit. Her legs were tense and the toes on her right foot were splaying out and curling up in a Charlie horse, a common problem among junkies. Calla woke and tried to sit up but couldn’t make it. “Andy,” she called out, “Andy please it hurts,” she tried to reach down and rub the sore muscles.

“Relax, honey, just breath a little bit.” Daniel told her while he mentally pulled the dagger out of his heart. He let it pass, she’d been dependant on Hartley for a long time and it was only natural that in this state she would call out for him since he was the one who’d been there for her as of late. “I got this.” He sat down next to her brought the covers in tight around her upper body and then began to massage from the tight calf down to her foot. This was just the start of it by tomorrow night when they were sequestered away she’d be into full blown DTs. Daniel started to realize just how bad the detoxification process was going to be when he picked up that gnarled foot and began rubbing the arch. Kitty loved to have her feet rubbed but now she cried out again and tried to pull it away from him. Looking down he saw why, the sole of her foot was covered in track marks, long squiggly ugly purple lines ran all over beneath the skin. He’d wondered why he didn’t see any on her arms the other night at the gallery that was because Andy showed her how to boot up so that no one would notice such ugly markings. Good old Andy, thank God he was dead!

“It wasn’t a dream,” she said softly and let him take her foot in her hand. “You are here,” her voice was a coarse whisper.

“Yes, right here. Look around, do you know where you are?”

Calla smiled and lay back on the pillow. “Home.” Calla reached out for his other hand and took it in her own, it was warm and soft and he didn’t pull away from her touch the way Andy sometimes did. “Kiss?”

His mouth started to water just at the mention of the word ‘kiss’. More than anything he’d like to lay his lips over hers, take her up in his arms and just never let her go. Not since he left for Bacchus’ Kingdom six months ago did his lips touch hers. It had been far too long since he’d felt that electrifying tingle on his lips. He wasn’t denied any longer. Leaning into her and holding her as close he kissed her until the electricity prickled throughout both of them and then some more. Wanting to do more than merely kiss her and knowing the timing was wrong, Kitty wasn’t ready and he didn’t want to make love with her until she was clean and sober. Daniel pulled away. “I love you, Kitty. I am so sorry for what I did…”

Calla raised her fingertips to cover his lips.

OK, maybe it was too soon to say everything he wanted to say. Maybe Kitty was still too sick to hear it right now. “I’m glad you’re home, it’s been a long time coming, Kitty, but we’re all here now and we’re all safe.” He assured her. “Go to sleep we have a big day ahead of us tomorrow.”

“Why?”

“We’re going on a trip.” He told her softly and the foot in his hand began to relax. The muscles eased off and the pretty little toes came back to a more normal position. “A very long trip to a very beautiful place where no one will find us and no one will disturb us.”

“Sounds heavenly,” she whispered as her eyes closed.

There was so much more he wanted to say but it would all have to wait, Kitty was asleep again. Looking over at the clock by the bed Daniel couldn’t believe it was only 9:30 it felt like he’d been in the Under World for hours if not days. Curiosity got the better of him and while Calla slept he opened the suitcases and rifled through them a little bit. Just as he thought mostly clothes but he did find something interesting. Calla had been keeping a journal and it didn’t have a lock. It was just an ordinary looking little book.

Taking it out of the suitcase and sitting down on the chaise by the unlit hearth he rationalized that if he knew more about the time she spent away from him then he’d be help her better. Daniel read about her adventures in Europe with Andrew F. Hartley and how she’d been invited to dance by none other than Brad Pitt. Daniel chuckled when he got to that part, she thought he was very handsome and the look on her face must have been one for the record books when old Brad asked her to take a twirl on the dance floor. Daniel was sorry he’d missed it. Brad Pitt was just about the only bright spot in the entire journal. Her time away from home hadn’t been very happy but it was exciting and filled with glamorous people it should have been a fun time but she was miserable. The last entry she made was about receiving the divorce papers while she was in the Swiss clinic—rotten timing on that one! She stopped writing after that. She stopped trying after that.

Sitting there watching her sleep he wondered just how many times he could come this close to losing her and get her back? What did Bruce say? ‘The word’s been passed this is our last chance’. Maybe it was.

“Better make it count.” Daniel said as he shut the book and crawled into the bed next to her.

Tomorrow was the start of another chapter in their lives and come hell or high water Daniel was determined it was going to end happily. No matter what it took.

The End
Tarnished Heroes: Something Happened on the way to Heaven
by
Moon Mistress

You may now Return to the Kisses in the Dark Library Vol. II
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