Author: TheMissingWinchester
Rating: Adult
Disclaimer: I don't own em
Summary: based on a wonderful challenge by tequathisy
A/N: I am holding an all day chat over at Roswell Heaven today, Wed the 6th... feel free to pop in and ask any questions you may have about this fic or You Broke It http://p072.ezboard.com/broswellheaven
Prologue:
Two figures ducked, the taller one shielding the smaller as much as possible, as the ground shook beneath their feet, the aftershock of the latest explosion. The startled squawking of the baby cuddled tightly against the smaller figure filled the air and the taller figure cringed, trying awkwardly to quieten the frightened infant.
"Come on, we can't stay here." Panic filled the man's voice as he huddled the woman and child down a dark, rubble filled street. He found it hard to reconcile the destruction around him to the town he'd grown up in. They had known for years that this threat existed, yet it still shocked him how quickly the invasion had progressed to this.
This town, the only home he'd ever known, looked every bit the war zone it had become. He knew he, they, were to blame for this. That their very presence on this planet, and in this town, had led to the death of all these innocent people. Their deaths weighed heavily upon his shoulders.
The trio turned down another rubble filled alley. The woman looked at the remains of the building beside her. Was that the UFO Museum? Yearning eyes strayed to the building across the street. The cafe had been reduced to brick and debris. There was nothing left of the home she'd grown up in.
They crossed the deserted rubble filled street carefully. Finally reaching the opposite sidewalk, she inhaled sharply, taking in the smouldering remains of her childhood home. Tears filled her eyes at the loss of yet another cherished memory.
Bending carefully, she picked up the small plastic alien that had spent so many years displayed in the cafe's front window, her fingers skimming over the charred remains. So much death and destruction. She turned to the man at her side and asked, "Why is this happening?" She didn't really expect an answer. She knew there were no easy answers to be had.
"I don't know, Liz. I know I failed you, Isabel, all of us, but I swear to you I will protect you and PJ. I swear it." She looked into his solemn eyes and nodded. The three of them were all that remained now. Liz knew it weighed just as heavily on his shoulders as it did on hers. He'd always taken so much on himself. She knew better than to argue with him here, now.
Looking into her eyes, he wished he could just wave his hands and make all of this go away. All the pain, all the death, all the grief. He knew that was impossible but he would do whatever it took to keep Liz and the baby safe. Or die trying. They were the only family he had left.
Hugging Liz tighter to him, he led her and the baby away from the restaurant. Too many painful memories for her, for both of them, here. He needed to get them out of the line of fire. Moving them quickly down the alley past the building that held such painful memories, they crossed the next street, moving for the next alley.
Their best hope was to stay to the alleys, the shadows, to avoid any ground troops that might be searching for them. PJ was still crying fitfully, causing him to scan the area nervously before rushing them across the next deserted street.
"You! Stop!" Beams of energy flew past them with lightning speed and they immediately broke into a run for the looming alley before them. He heard her breath hitch, but he kept them moving until the safety of the alley swallowed them up. And still he ran. He knew better than to stop now that they'd been seen. Stopping could only mean death for her, for him, for PJ.
They were several streets away before he finally slowed their pace. And that was when he realized he was more dragging Liz along than leading her. Skidding to a stop, he looked down at her, and his heart froze. Her eyes were drawn to slits, her grip on PJ loosening before his eyes. He stared mournfully at the scorch mark on her top, at the blood oozing from the gaping wound there, and felt his throat clench around the words that were screaming for release.
He took PJ into his arms just as Liz crumpled to the ground at his feet. "NO! You can't do this, Liz! You can't leave me!" Falling to his knees, his shoulders shaking with the force of his sobs, he reached out, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear as he gazed down upon her beloved face.
"I'm sorry, Jack," Liz answered weakly, her eyes locked on his, a wealth of pain and regret in her gaze.
"No, Liz. It's not too late. PJ needs his mother. It's not too late," Jack protested weakly, squeezing her hand, willing her to fight, to live. "Stay with us, Liz."
"You have to go, Jack... they'll be coming. You have to get PJ out of here, keep him safe," Liz replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper now.
"Where are we supposed to go, Liz? Khivar's men are everywhere. If Max was here, he could heal you." Jack spoke softly, guilt lacing his words. "I failed him, and now I've failed you and PJ, too."
"We can't change the past, Jack. And you can't keep blaming yourself for this. It's Khi... Khivar's doing, not yours," Liz murmered. "If it was as simple as just going back and..."
"What, Liz?" Jack asked urgently. He'd seen her body tense up as she'd let her thought trail off unfinished.
"Serena..."
"Serena what? Talk to me, Liz."
"Serena said the Granolith..." Liz's breath hitched, her face contorting in pain. It seemed an eternity before she was able to complete her thought. "...can be used... as a time machine..."
"So I can go back and fix this! I can just warn us and we can stop Khivar from invading," Jack marveled, hope shining in his eyes. "I can save us all, Liz."
Jack squeezed her hand gently before raising it to his lips. "It's not too late, Liz. I'll get you to the Granolith and we can go back. Max can heal you and we can warn them about Khivar's invasion."
"You have been the best brother a girl could ask for, Jack. And I know... you'll be the... the best uncle to PJ... Don't cry, Jack... I'm ok... I'm go... going to be with... with Max again."
"No, Liz! PJ needs you!" Jack protested wildly. Liz squeezed his hand weakly, a sad smile on her face. And then her hand went limp in his, her eyes losing that spark of life. "No! Come back, Liz! You can't leave me," he sobbed, burying his face in her hair. "You can't leave me!"
Jack slumped, burying his tearstained face in her silky hair, his shoulders shaking with the force of his sobs. How had he failed them all so completely, he wondered bitterly. How had he so completely lost control of the situation? There was no one left now. No one except the fussing baby in his weary arms.
Looking down into PJ's innocently trusting eyes, Jack stifled a grieving moan. His nephew was completely dependent upon him now. The boy's life was in his hands. Liz had entrusted the boy to his care. Jack vowed he would not let her down. He would protect this child with his very life.
His mission had been handed to him. He had to get them to the Granolith. Then he would use the alien artifact to take them back in time. There, he could just give Max the warning and ensure that the destruction around him would be prevented. His family would not suffer at the hands of Khivar.
*~*~*~*~*
The weary figure ducked, holding the squalling baby tightly against his chest as a beam of red energy sliced through the night, barely missing them. Tuning out the baby's cries, Jack made his way stealthily toward his destination. His last orders had been to protect his King's mate and son at all cost. He had failed to save his Queen. He was unwilling to fail the Prince as well.
Reaching the base of the rock formation housing the pod chamber, and more importantly, the granolith, the man began to scramble upwards, toward the doorway hidden in the rock wall.
A loud painfilled growl mingled with the renewed bellows of the infant as another beam of energy found it's mark, burning through flesh like a knife through butter. Sweat broke out upon his forehead, lips twisted into a pained grimace as flames of agony licked their way along sensitive nerve endings, traveling upwards toward the emotion receptors in his brain.
Releasing a harsh grunt, one clammy hand lifted to press against the faintly glowing palm print blinking dully upon the stone. The door opened with a soft click and the figure crawled inside with it's very precious cargo, tightening his grip on the squirming infant in his arms.
The door sealed itself behind them and the figure crawled through the dried out pod, into the Granolith Chamber. Placing his Prince gently upon the floor, the figure cursed softly at the sight of the energy burns visible on the boy's arm, chest and face. The baby's shallow gasping breaths caused his heart to clench. No Damnit! I failed with her, I will not lose you, too, PJ! he thought determinedly.
Moving to the Granolith, Jack's hand dipped into a pocket, only to reemerge seconds later, fingers curled around the Crystal key, and sliding the rod into the base of the Granolith. Eyes gleamed as the Granolith whirred to life. He would just go back a couple of months... warn the others about what was coming, and Max could heal the baby. Problem solved; mission accomplished.
Holding the injured child against his chest, Jack reached out, allowing the Granolith to transport them both inside. Eyes closed, Jack waited for the Granolith to take them back.
Vertigo hit, and Jack braced himself as best he could, his need to protect PJ a desperatation that would not be denied. Dirt settled beneath his feet, and Jack stumbled to his knees, taking deep breaths and waiting for the lightheadedness to pass. Finally, Jack opened his eyes and groaned at the site before him.
How could this happen? They were supposed to go back a few weeks, a few months at most. Something had gone horribly wrong. Jack stared at the four incubating pods before him, knowing he had now failed for the final time. Max couldn't heal them if he hadn't even hatched yet!
Death would claim them and his failure would finally be complete. Liz had placed her trust in him and he had been unable to fulfill his sister's faith in him. Jack growled at the absurdity of the situation. No, damnit! PJ is not going to suffer for my mistakes!
Closing his eyes briefly, Jack pictured Liz's face, remembered her dying words, and knew what needed to be done. Stepping to one of the pods, Jack placed a hand on the thin membrane and carefully punctured the pod, pulling the incubating child from the safety of the pod, gently replacing the child with his nephew.
Stumbling to the closest wall, Jack slid down, cradling the dying alien in his arms, his body jerking in pain as the child's agony became his own. A single tear escaped at the knowledge of what his sacrifice would cost him. Looking into the eyes of the dying alien, Jack allowed himself to find peace in the fact that his sacrifice would ensure the future of his nephew. Jack gazed down at himself until he slowly faded out of existence.
TBC
