Monkey Family
Nov. 23rd, 2007 01:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maevebran
Title: Monkey Family
Author: Maeve Bran
Summarry: Family is redefined when Buffy needs hers around her most.
Notes:This set during “The Road Not Taken” 10.13. Also written for the Ninja Daniel challenge that Michael Shanks has issued at several conventions.
Prompt: Family Gatherings
Disclaimer: I own niether Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Stargate SG1 serries. I am just having some unprofitable fun.
Raiting: FR 13
Word Count: 1621
Buffy took her turn in the rotation to keep the out of phase Lt. Col. Samantha Carter company along with the still present members of SG1.Her shift invariably came in the wee small hours of the morning since she was a Slayer and used to being awake then. She was too pregnant to be allowed out on patrol, or so insisted both her Watcher, Rupert Giles, and her doctor, Dr. Carolyn Lam. Buffy reluctantly agreed since she knew Daniel would agree with them that a woman eight and a half months pregnant was too pregnant to engage in life and death battles with the forces of Darkness unless she absolutely had to. So here she found herself talking to what appeared to be an empty room. For all she knew it could be but Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell insisted that Carter was just stuck out of phase and by golly he was not going to abandon another team member.
Buffy appreciated the thought since the team member Mitchell was referring to was her husband, Dr. Daniel Jackson. Daniel had been missing for two months since Adria had taken off with him. Buffy was worried but she knew Daniel would be back. He had promised after all and he did have an impressive record of coming back from the supposed dead in the past.
Buffy was sharing these thoughts and others with an invisible Samantha, when the belly cramps started. At first she thought it was just indigestion from the peanut butter and pickle sandwich she had scarfed down earlier, but then she felt a sticky wetness between her legs. She managed to make her way over to the red pone on the wall and dial the infirmary. Once she reached the nurse on duty she gasped out where she was and that she needed help.
Help came quickly both in the form of the orderlies with a gurney and the solid presence of the alien Teal’c. He was the one who lifted her up, single handedly, and placed her on the gurney for the trip to the infirmary. Teal’c had a resolute look on his face when Dr. Lam started to try to get him to leave.
“I failed Daniel Jackson once. I will not do so again,” was all he would say when pressed.
Dr. Lam finally decided there were battles worth waging and that was not one of them, so she let the Jaffa stay. He did back away and make use of the base phone when it became clear that Buffy was in labor. He stood just inside the door to the private room Buffy had been settled in. Soon his vigil was joined by Mitchell and Vala Mal Doran, the final member of SG1.
“Buffy, is there any family you want me to call?” inquired Dr. Lam between contractions.
“Willow and Dawn, and Giles too.” Buffy replied. “One call will reach them all.”
“I’ll call them,” Mitchell said. “Don’t worry.” Mitchell left to go to his office and make the call.
Five minutes later there was a loud pop in the room and three people materialized. One was an older man looking very English Librarian. Another was a woman about Buffy’s age with bright red hair. The last was a younger woman with brown hair. The members of SG1 recognized the three from Buffy and Daniel’s wedding six months ago. They were in order, Giles, Willow and Dawn and what family Buffy had. Dawn was her sister but Willow was almost as good as and Giles was more of a father to Buffy than the man who had contributed DNA to her.
“Hey, Wills.” Buffy said as she reached out. “Dawnie, are you ready to be an aunt?”
“Absolutely,” replied the brunette. “More so than Giles here is ready to be a grandfather.”
Giles removed his glasses and cleaned them while saying,” Oh, dear lord.” Once the glasses were back in place he continued, “I’m not this child’s grandfather.”
“Well you’re going to be the closest thing he or she has,” Buffy replied. Then another contraction hit. Once it subsided she continued,” You know Mom is dead and Dad doesn’t want anything to do with me. Daniel was orphaned as a boy.”
“I’d be honored to be the child’s grandfather in that case,” Giles said with pent up emotion. It was the second time that Buffy had honored him as her father figure. He was just as surprised this time as when she had asked him to give her away. But he treasured it all the same.
Mitchell returned with General Landry following behind him. A white beam of light entered the room and Major General Jack O’Neill appeared. Dr. Lam looked at the rather large crowd that was beginning to encroach on the room.
“Ok all but immediate family out,” She said. Nobody moved.
Buffy smiled even though she could feel that another contraction was starting. This strange collection of people and aliens were her immediate family. Even Dawn, who was her sister, was technically cloned from Buffy’s DNA. There was a Watcher, a Witch, and the Key on her side of the family. On Daniel’s side there was an Air Force Major General, the space pirate, and the former First Prime. They both shared the other Air Force General and the Lieutenant Colonel.
“Ok, let’s try this again. If you are actually related by blood you may stay. The rest of you out in the hall,” Lam commanded. This time everyone but Dawn started to leave.
“Actually, I’d like Willow to stay too,” Buffy gasped.
“All right but the rest of you out,” Lam said as she followed Teal’c and made sure they had all left before closing the door.
Several hours later the small crowd was let back in the room. Buffy was in a fresh nightgown and holding a blue blanket wrapped bundle. She was practically beaming as were Willow and Dawn who sat on either side and made cooing noises at the baby.
“I’d like you all to meet Jonathon Rupert Jackson,” Buffy said proudly once they had all filed in. The two namesakes were manfully trying to hold back tears.
“Buffy . . .” Giles started.
“Daniel and I had discussed names but hadn’t actually settled on a boy’s name. We had agreed on Joyce Clair if it turned out to be a girl but we never could figure out the boy’s name.” Buffy explained. “But it occurred to me that neither Hank or Melburn would be good enough names for this little guy. He should be named after the men who most affect our lives. Giles, you have been more than my Watcher for the last decade,” Buffy said with tears gathering in her eyes. She then looked to Jack and continued, “And Jack here has been like Daniel’s older brother as well as his best friend. I can think of no two better men for my son to be named after.”
“I believe Daniel Jackson would agree,” Teal’c said. That seemed to silence any discussion of the name. The ladies all sniffed at the reminder that the one man who had the right to be voicing his opinion of the name was not there. Never the less, the gathered family was a happy one.
A few days later, Samantha rematerialized in her lab with all her equipment. After SG1 had greeted her and then made their excuses to leave. Vala rushed back and gave her a hug.
“We really did miss you Samantha.” Vala said as she put her head on the blonde’s shoulder. “The family gathering wasn’t complete without you. And Daniel of course.”
“What ‘family gathering’? What are you talking about?” Sam puzzled.
“Buffy had her baby. Buffy’s family came and General O’Neill showed up,” Vala explained as she left the lab.
Sam wondered down to the infirmary to get some answers since Vala hadn’t staid around long enough to answer her questions. One of the nurses directed Sam to the room where Buffy was still. The nurse had said Buffy had been cleared to leave yesterday except she was showing signs of severe depression.
“Hey Buffy,” Sam greeted. “I hear congratulations are in order.”
Buffy looked up and smiled weakly. “Thanks.”
“You want to see him,” Buffy asked after a moment.
“Sure,” Sam took the baby from Buffy and cradled him tenderly to her. “So what’s his name?”
“Jonathon Rupert Jackson. Teal’c says Daniel would approve.”
Sam guessed what was wrong. “Daniel would have been here if he could.”
“He promised even if he had to die and Ascend and retake human form he’d be here.” Buffy said flatly. “I guess he’s dead then.”
“Not necessarily. I would say he is very much alive if he didn’t show up naked to the infirmary.” Sam said. Buffy looked at her questioningy. “It’s how he descends. Naked.”
Buffy gaped at Sam. “Naked?”
“Yep. The first time was on Vis Uban. He didn’t remember his name so they called him ‘Arrom’ meaning ‘naked one’ because that was the way they had found him. The second time he descended he did so in Jack’s office while Jack, Teal’c, Bray’tac and I were having a briefing. Jack had to swipe the SGC flag to give him something to cover up with so he could leave the office.”
Buffy started to grin at that mental image. “As soon as he gets back, I’m going to have to tease him about flags.”
“Definitely.” Sam smiled. “Daniel will be back. You can count on it.” Sam handed over little Jonathon to Buffy and left the room.
Buffy gazed down at her son and said,” Your Daddy will be back. All his friends say so.”
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Date: 2007-11-24 01:25 am (UTC)Going to go put it up at TtH shortly.
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Date: 2007-11-25 01:18 am (UTC)I already got like 6 reviews at TtH.=)