[identity profile] zortified.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] sga_flashfic
Title: Gone, Not Forgotten
Author: James
Rating: G (gen, no pairing)
Disclaimer: not mine, no profit made
Challenge: left behind
Summary: Until that Marine shows up on their doorstep, solemn and dress uniform, then she knows he's fine.



She understands. Dolores tells her husband, and she means every word. She understands because it's the nature of babies to grow up and move out and move on. They leave and sometimes they don't come back, because that's just life. She's raised five children and nine grandchildren and she's just started on her second great-grandchild -- although mostly, now, she just holds the babies in her arms and sings to them and lets their grandmomma be the one to chase after them and lets their mommas be the ones to deal with broken toys and diapers.

Then there's the nephews and nieces and lord she can't count all the cousins anymore. Two uncles still alive and one sister -- Dolores reminds herself to give Bea a call, later in the week. Have some coffee and bake some sweets for the little ones who'll come around on Saturday and she tells herself she won't count heads.

Because she understands, even though Clarence doesn't believe her. He still asks, when they've climbed into bed and the world is growing quiet. He reaches over and takes her hand, gives it a squeeze like he's done for the last fifty one years. Mostly he asks how her day was, sometimes he'll ask about relatives she's talked to that day. Sometimes he tells her about something he's fixed around the house or what needs calling for someone else to take a look at.

When it's cold, he fusses over whether she wants another blanket and just isn't asking because he knows she knows he's more warm-blooded than she is. But she's fine, she's always fine, even when he rolls onto his side and looks at her, dark eyes still sharp and clear.

"Do you want me to call around?" he asks, as though that would tell them anything more than they already know.

"Don't be silly," she answers, like always. She reaches over and pats him on the cheek. "There's no flag. That means he's fine."

He's somewhere out there -- God knows where, and God ain't telling. But until that Marine shows up on their doorstep, solemn and dress uniform, then she knows he's fine.

Aiden's out there, somewhere, and God's keeping an eye on him because she can't anymore. It's the way of things -- babies grow up and move out and move on. She understands, because that's the way of things sometimes. She accepts it, because there isn't much use in fighting what's just life.

But that doesn't mean she has to let them know she knows, in her heart, that he's gone.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-03 02:57 pm (UTC)
ext_842: (Default)
From: [identity profile] etben.livejournal.com
Oh, Ford. *sniffle*

Wonderful backstory, though. Ow-inducing, but wonderful.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-03 03:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] joolz01.livejournal.com
That makes me hurt for them. Very nice! Thanks

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-03 03:16 pm (UTC)
ext_868: (Ford)
From: [identity profile] reccea.livejournal.com
Ford! *sniffs* I miss Ford damnit.

That is to say, I really enjoyed this story. :)

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-03 03:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] torakowalski.livejournal.com
Oh that's so lovely and so sad. I was fine until that last line, now I'm all teary!

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-03 03:52 pm (UTC)
ext_1584: (Default)
From: [identity profile] crystalheaven.livejournal.com
Oh man, I was going good, reading along, and then WHAM! Hit that last sentence.

Then, then the waterworks started. *sniffles*

Lovely.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-03 03:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] druidspell.livejournal.com
Oh wow. Ford... I miss him so much, and I can tell, reading this, that the rest of his family does, too. And I love how you've shown us more than told us that his family still hopes, even against the odds and their own instincts.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-03 04:00 pm (UTC)
fairestcat: Dreadful the cat (Default)
From: [personal profile] fairestcat
Ow. This is fantastic.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-03 04:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] miss-porcupine.livejournal.com
Oh, nice. Quiet and thoughtful and sad without going too far into maudlin.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-03 05:40 pm (UTC)
ext_1843: (Default)
From: [identity profile] cereta.livejournal.com
Oh, ouch.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-03 06:28 pm (UTC)
ext_805: serene buddha in blue (Default)
From: [identity profile] sandalstrap.livejournal.com

But that doesn't mean she has to let them know she knows, in her heart, that he's gone.

And now I want to cry. That, right there, was the most beautiful slap in the face that has ever been given.

Oh, Aiden.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-03 06:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] auntiemeesh.livejournal.com
*snifle*

This is so moving. Ford's grandma is strong and resilient, holding everyone else's hope together, long after she's lost any of her own.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-03 06:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] packmentality.livejournal.com
OMG, FORD! *cries* Beautiful and sad.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-03 07:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] incredulity.livejournal.com
Wonderful, beautiful sad story. So *not* the thing to be reading at work!

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-03 07:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dark-cygnet.livejournal.com
Man, i miss Ford so much. This is a lovely look at Aiden's grandparents and the hope that his grandmother has. Wonderful job, thank you for sharing.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-03 09:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chalcopyrite.livejournal.com
Oh, ow. Dammit. ::sniffs::

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-03 10:20 pm (UTC)
ext_975: photo of a woof (Default)
From: [identity profile] springwoof.livejournal.com
*sniff*

I always wondered why they used a "cousin" of Ford's in Season 2, when in Season 1, Ford himself always talked about his "Grandma"....

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-03 11:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] adafrog.livejournal.com
Very interesting. Well done.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-04 12:07 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] roo2.livejournal.com
Very beautiful. Really makes me miss Ford, who has such potential. Too bad they chose to waste it.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-04 12:33 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] burntcopper.livejournal.com
ouchies. But good ouchies, y'know?

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-04 01:59 am (UTC)
jadelennox: Soot creatures from Spirited Away (soot)
From: [personal profile] jadelennox
*cries*

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-04 06:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] agent-sydney.livejournal.com
Beautiful. So sad.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-04 03:00 pm (UTC)
ext_1771: Joe Flanigan looking A-Dorable. (welcome - sga)
From: [identity profile] monanotlisa.livejournal.com
Oh, I love this.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-04 05:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dracostella.livejournal.com
Oh, Ford's grandparents. Oh. This is lovely.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-06 07:53 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] viciouswishes.livejournal.com
That just great. *sniffs*

(no subject)

Date: 2006-03-12 05:39 am (UTC)
zoerayne: (sga)
From: [personal profile] zoerayne
Oh, ouch. That was really, really good, in a hurty way.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-02-03 03:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] riverlight.livejournal.com
Oh, this is wonderful. Ford! Man oh man.

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-08 02:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] duonoaikouka.livejournal.com
Just wanted you to know that I recced (http://community.livejournal.com/stargateficrec/1665434.html) you over at [livejournal.com profile] stargateficrec. You've written a very powerful and emotional piece here that I just had to share. Just gorgeous angst and poor Grandma.

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