ORP: A Little of Your Time

”Three days?” came out in a more shocking voice than before. Mumbling, she expressed probably the same notion that could be grinding the gears in her best friend’s head. ”I received the email from Robert about three days ago to meet him. You don’t think…could it be possible?” Returning her attention back to Ayden, Kat listened to how their reunion unfolded. It wasn’t exactly a romantic love story, but it sure fit a Mr. and Mrs. Smith movie. Logan also gave out a laugh and sighed with enormous relief. ”I’m sure his reaction to seeing his son for the first time was priceless. I can only hope Robert shows the same.”

Katrina totally understood that you don’t push men farther than they want to be pushed, especially when enduring possible torture, beatings and god knows what else Al went through while in this prison camp. She was thankful that his intelligence was remarkably and incredible like Walker’s. ”That’s why we are in the Stargate program. We are the best of the best and I had always had that small glimmer of hope like I did for Robert that Al was still alive somewhere surviving for his wife.”

Thoughts wondered off subject to that of her father’s death. All of this was too coincidental for the Major to believe it was some organization who did this out of revenge or payment. Remembering something else she brought with her, Kat opened her purse and pulled out an envelope. She found it on her father’s desk when cleaning his home and getting things in order for his funeral. Handing it over to Ayden, a more serious tone cleansed the broken tearful one earlier. ”Speaking of coincidences, look at this.” As Ayden took the envelope to reveal its contents, Kat explained more. ”My father did not security clearance to have obtained a list of operatives. He knew about the Stargate program but it never left his mouth for my safety. So why does he have this? Unless it was planted or he wasn’t telling me something to guard me and his grandson’s future.” Watching Ayden read the list, the Major continued, ”I’ve been doing some poking around on my own ever since I found it. Something is not adding up Ayden and if his death was not of natural causes like I was told, there will hell to pay.”

Kat listened learning the heartfelt story that came after the gun fight. Parts of her were screaming in pain for all the suffering Al probably went through. If he had been in that prison camp since the day Ayden found out he was missing, then he had to have suffered tremendously. But, the other part was crying in joy that he was home with a blessing awaiting him. ”You’ll just have to give Al time. In nursing school we had a small discussion about Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Just keep monitoring his emotions and actions. Depression and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder are both illnesses you need to look out for Ayden. If he starts to show signs like recurring nightmares about the prison camp and being tortured, hesitation to discuss the traumatic events, or difficulty sleeping or performing normal tasks, you will need to get him some help.” Katrina was concerned about this, especially with the news of having a child too. This became another fear on Kat’s list for Robert.

Logan only got through her own pregnancy, because of what Ayden went through. She saw what was coming both physically and emotionally. Ayden probably suffered more than Kat simply because Kat got a warning of her upcoming struggled. So without each other’s support, anything could have happened to those precious little boys.

Coming back to reality taking the papers Kat back from Ayden, she answered. ”I’m not sure. He was always my Superman trying to keep me out of harm’s way. We had a battle of stubborn heads when I told him I was joining the military. When my father passed, Colonel Samantha Carter came to my home a few days after the funeral. She already knew of my suspicions. She was the one who informed meof his death. Being as she has more security clearance and a little help from General O’Neill, Carter confirmed that he had nothing to do with this list.” That statement gave the Major chills. Knowing that somehow, some way, somebody was in the home she now possessed during her father’s long work day.

”All I could find in the limited of time so far were phone records from his house to numbers I did not recognize. Albeit, he had many contacts and friends, but these were out of country numbers. He didn’t place out of country calls while at home. He was a cheapskate and wouldn’t pay the money for the long distance phone call. Someone had to have been in that house when he wasn’t. And I will find out who, what, why and where if it takes me forever.” Her final statement was cold and abrasive. She was not about to stop digging around for more information, no matter what the cost.

“I already have. You can keep this one”, handing back the envelope. Katrina was damned determined to find any reason her father was murdered to make it look like a heart attack. She had so wished to have had an open casket. He was in his dress blues adorned all kinds of medals. Because she was so far away, the funeral home wanted to know if he was to be buried or cremated. They also inquired about a showing. When a person dies and they don’t have them embalmed as soon as possible, the body will begin to bloat. Katrina gave specific orders for her dad to be embalmed the next day. She wasn’t due to arrive for almost 4 days after he died. When in the viewing room, Katrina had looked at her father. The director informed her that she made the decision to embalm him when she arrived. Kat was under so much distress, she didn’t complain. There was nothing they could about it now. It didn’t even look like her. She chose the closed casket for her father’s dignity and had a picture of him for display.

Taking another sip of ginger ale, Logan suggested something that could lead them into serious trouble or killed. ”I know we need to think about our sons, but would you be willing to help me infiltrate the Pentagon? I’m sure with our knowledge, we could easily get inside. It’s finding where to look is the hard part.”

It was a huge sigh of relief leaving the Major when Ayden accepted her invite to retrieve information from one of the most secured sites in the United States.  It would be like older times on off world planets where intel had to be retained in order to save lives or bring back to earth for better defenses of our home world.  Lowering her head, eyes narrowed slightly.  The Ori still stirring deep within the bones of the Major tried peering out as Kat spoke softly, but deeply almost cold like death.  "Yes, it's a tall order.  But, it helps to have the key."  Colonel Samantha Carter had been aiding her in finding information to help with the investigation about her dad.  Most of their conversations were over very secure lines on laptops under different names and a totally coded language to protect her and little Robbie.  "I have my dad's security clearance he once had to get in.  I made sure it was never removed from the system, only moved somewhere it would be difficult to trace."  The blood boiled still believing another human being that possibly had their own family and served this wonderful nation could do such a thing to a comrade.  

Continuing in a darker tone, Logan continued.  "I can get us in without any issues.  It's finding the information and location of that information that I am still working on.  And we must keep this from Robert and Al.  If they knew what we were about to attempt, they would place a stop on it permanently.  Her softness returned knowing how much each man had loved their partner.  Both Al and Walker would give their entire soul to save Katrina and Ayden.  "You have the same clearance as he does, so that is why I thought of you.  Plus getting a little dirty might be fun."

Well, fun not so much, entertaining....maybe.