Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Carter household

Buffy had only been 9 years old when she had to become a peacemaker to save her family.

When her mom died, and her twin brother, Mark, blamed their dad, Buffy had to fight to keep that resentment from boiling over into words that couldn’t be taken back. She was only partially successful.

It didn’t help that their father didn’t know how to be a dad without their mom around. He needed to run the family like they were his airmen, but they were just kids. Even though she sort of resented her father as well, Sam actually fed that personality quirk by striving to be the perfect pre-servicemember daughter. It was like Sam’s goal in life was to prove she could be the son Jacob always wanted (especially since Mark refused to be).

Unfortunately for Buffy and Mark, Jacob used Sam as the yardstick for their success…and they could never measure up. They were both remarkably talented in their own ways, but since their talents weren’t in areas that the Air Force got excited about, they weren’t praised like Sam’s accomplishments

Mark had a near-inhuman ability to learn different languages and musical instruments. What would take Sam years to learn, Mark could master in mere months. If Jacob had been more supportive of Mark’s studies, Mark could have gone to a school like Juilliard.

Worse for Buffy was the fact that she was ‘barely’ above average in all her schoolwork. She didn’t even excel in a ‘useless’ subject like music or language (she had overheard him complaining to a co-worker after getting her straight-B’s report card one time). Her talent lay in her ability to read people. If she were older, the spy and/or law enforcement agencies would be drooling over her.

As it was, she used her abilities to keep the family as functional as possible, burying her hurt over her father’s rejection every time he compared her to Sam unfavorably. And it mostly worked for a few years.

At the age of 14, when Mark found out that Jacob had torpedoed his chances to study at Juilliard, he decided to go into full rebellion mode. Goth look, piercings, tattoos, drinking, smoking…the whole clichéd bit. While Jacob was gone for one thing or another, Mark got his first piercing (ear) and bought a pack of cigarettes from an older kid at school.

That night he decided to try smoking for the first time after his sisters were asleep. He hacked his way through two and a half cigarettes when he heard Buffy whimpering in her sleep. It amazed him that his coughing hadn’t woken her up already. He stubbed the cigarette out and went inside to check on her.

She explained about her recurring dream that she was a bunch of different girls in history, each meeting her death at the fangs of a vampire named Lothos.

After he calmed her down, she scolded him for trying to smoke. Her winning argument was that she didn’t want to lose him to cancer or something else like she lost their mom to that car accident years earlier.

A week later, he saw a man follow Buffy into the girls’ locker room and sprinted across the gym to catch up before anything could happen to her. He got in just as the man threw a knife at his twin sister. He missed seeing Buffy catch the knife because he was too busy tackling the guy who threw it.

Once Merrick had explained his actions and convinced them that vampires were real, Mark had second thoughts about rebelling…or at least the method of his rebellion. If his father embraced science, he would embrace the mystical. So much the better that it would help keep Buffy alive longer.

But they agreed that Jacob and Sam could never find out the real truth.

Chapter Text

Carter household

“Where’s your sister?” Jacob Carter asked his other children. Well, he was really asking Mark since Sam was busy with Jr. ROTC work and hadn’t noticed her sister’s absence.

As proof of that, Sam looked up in surprise and asked, “She didn’t make dinner?”

Mark bit his tongue. It was just assumed that Buffy would always make dinner because Jacob worked and Sam’s time was too flipping important to bother with menial things like that. “We made it after school because she had a pep group thing to do tonight for homecoming,” he said instead of what he wanted to say. Buffy begged him not to make waves so she could do her Slaying without interference.

“Pep group?” Jacob said with distaste. “Couldn’t she pick something more meaningful?”

Counting to ten, Mark pulled the food out of the oven and set it on the table. “She enjoys it, Dad,” he couldn’t help but say. Never mind that wasn’t where she actually was tonight; when she did cheerleading stuff, she did like it.

But Jacob just wouldn’t let up. “How will any college take her seriously if she only does fluff activities?” he demanded.

“Their cheer squad won regionals and came in second at state last year. They have a good chance of winning before Buffy graduates…especially if she becomes captain next year,” Mark replied shortly, but with a hint of pride.

Before Jacob could escalate things more, Sam interjected, “She might make captain? When she’s only a sophomore? That’s great! Isn’t that impressive, Dad?” she asked pointedly. If Mark was making an effort to be civil, their Dad could try, too.

Jacob sighed, “Sure, Sammy. Pass the bread, please.”

Apparently, that was as far as fatherly pride could stretch when it wasn’t science or military-related.

When dinner was finished and the table was cleared, Jacob said his good nights. “I have an early flight to DC in the morning. Remind Buffy not to stay out so late in the future.”

Mark fought the urge to snort. Only his father would consider 8:30 pm late. If he only knew…

He wondered if he would have to fake a phone call from Buffy to throw Sam off, but he needn’t have worried. She got a letter from a science teacher from the local university about a paper she submitted, and rushed to her room to read it.

The house was dark when Buffy came in several hours later. Mark had left a window open in the basement for her to sneak in, as well as a plate in the fridge so she could eat before going to sleep for a couple hours. He also left a note to tell her what happened during dinner; that way she was up-to-date on family news, just in case.

She changed into her pajamas and loaded the washer before heading upstairs, taking the time to wash her make-up off and tousle her hair to look like she’d been sleeping. It was just a precaution Mark thought up in case she ran into their Dad or Sam in the hallway on her way to bed.

Good thing he suggested it because just as she reached into the fridge for her food, she heard somebody behind her.

“Why are you up so early, Buffy?” Jacob demanded suspiciously, studying her face for any indication that she was just getting in.

She just turned and smiled at him. “Mark said you had to get up early today for a trip, so I thought I’d surprise you with breakfast. I just didn’t realize how early ‘early’ was going to be,” she explained.

“That’s nice,” Jacob allowed. “Just a couple eggs and some toast, please. I’ll get the coffee started.”

While she was cooking, he asked about her cheerleading, trying to figure out why she did it instead of a real sport.

“It’s considered a real sport by the athletic department, Daddy. Some of my squad mates have gotten scholarships to college for it,” Buffy told him.

“And you really have a chance at being the captain?” he asked a little more kindly.

“As long as nothing dramatic happens. The coach likes me and the captain who’s graduating next spring thinks I’d be a good leader. They said I’m inventive and charismatic, which are two really important traits for a captain,” she said as she put his plate on the table.

“Good. Thanks for breakfast. You’d better go back to sleep and get a couple more hours so you don’t fall asleep at school,” Jacob said in dismissal.

Buffy sighed, realizing that she’d have to make do with the snack bars in her room since she couldn’t heat up the plate now. She leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek and said, “Have a safe trip, Daddy.”

Chapter Text

Carter household
The morning after the dance…

Jacob had a disappointed look on his face, bordering on anger. “Why did you start the fire, Buffy?” he demanded in his General voice. Usually only Mark was on the receiving end of that voice lately.

“I didn’t, sir,” Buffy answered in a hoarse and quivering voice.

Mark glared at their dad and put his arm around his sister to give his support since it was apparent he was the only one on her side. Sam was gone for a drill weekend, so it was just the three of them.

“They told me--” Jacob started to refute her denial.

“They’re wrong!” Mark snapped. “But how nice of you to assume the worst of your daughter,” he continued in the same angry voice.

“They’re the police,” Jacob answered, although that wasn’t entirely true. It was actually a school administrator who told him that Buffy was under investigation for arson.

“And what proof do they have?” Mark demanded.

“I don’t know,” Jacob admitted, wondering when he lost his two youngest children. Buffy wouldn’t even look at him and Mark…it was probably good that Mark didn’t like guns right now.

Mark snorted in disgust. “It can’t be very good proof since I have photographic proof that she couldn’t have started the fire.”

“Why didn’t you give it to the investigators?” Jacob asked.

The look on Mark’s face was almost like looking at an enemy combatant, the hate was so evident. Then he slowly started talking like he had to explain something to an especially slow child, “I was more worried about being at the hospital with Buffy while she was treated for smoke inhalation…sir,” the last word was so sarcastic that it defined the word. “I figured that once she was safe, I could think about talking to the authorities about what happened.”

Buffy finally looked up at him, but her eyes were so full of pain that Jacob almost wished that she hadn’t. “If it was Sam who was accused, would you have believed it so easily?” she asked as tears started to fall down her cheeks.

“Well, no,” Jacob acknowledged without thinking.

“What is so horrible about me that I don’t get the same courtesy as her? What horrible things have I done that show that you can’t trust me?” she cried.

For once, he didn’t have an answer. At least not an answer that sounded good, even to him. It came down to the fact that Sam was following in his footsteps, and that made it easier for him to relate to her…to trust that she’d always do the right thing.

But he didn’t know how to change things…or even if it would matter now.

When he didn’t respond, she stood up and made her way to her bedroom, closing the door behind her without another word.

“I only forgave you for Mom because Buffy wanted me to,” Mark said. “But I won’t forgive you for this!”

Then he left and joined his twin, leaving Jacob Carter alone with thoughts he wasn’t prepared to deal with tonight. Too late, he had the realization that Buffy could have died in the fire. She was only released from the hospital this morning because they needed the bed and she was the most recovered, despite being the last one to leave the burning gym. And he hadn’t said anything about being glad she was alright.

“Dear God, Debra, what have I done?” he asked his dead wife, and receiving no reply.

Chapter Text

SGC

“Sir, we don’t need the NID sniffing around, trying to dig up dirt on the program!” Colonel Jack O’Neill protested to his commanding officer futilely.

“It’s not that I don’t agree with you, Colonel, but my hands are tied. Besides, this is a different organization – an international one – who is providing oversight on both the SGC and the NID,” General Hammond said.

“Great! More bureaucracy!” O’Neill whined—er, complained.

“They have a mandate from the United Nations, but aren’t actually part of the UN. From what my contacts could find out, they are more like independent contractors. They have agents from most of the first world countries and glowing recommendations from those countries for rooting out corrupt government organizations. The only countries who don’t love these people are the dictatorships because they don’t kowtow to the dictator’s demands,” Hammond explained at length.

O’Neill’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Why haven’t we heard of them before?” he asked.

“Because you didn’t need to know before now,” a female voice answered from the doorway. “Sorry, I saw the door ajar and your assistant was away from his desk,” she added to Hammond.

Hammond stood to greet them, not even surprised that he wasn’t warned of their arrival; that also fit with what he heard about the group. “Hello, I’m General George Hammond, this is my Second-in-Command, Colonel Jack O’Neill.”

“With two ‘l’s,” Jack added flippantly. “The one with one ‘l’ has no sense of humor.”

The woman smirked, “You’d get along great with another of our senior agents. Hello, General…Colonel. I’m Buffy Summers and this is my partner – and brother – Mark Summers. We are the flag team for WWtW, or Who Watches the Watchers. Our mission statement is to assess different organizations around the world and determine if they are acting in the best interests of humanity.”

“So you’re here to decide if we should be shut down?” Jack asked, offended that his career could be ended by a civilian.

Mark shook his head. “We already know that shutting the SGC down isn’t an option. As long as there are enemies out there who know about Earth, we need the Gate, if only to use as a means to relocate someplace safer,” he said, alleviating most of the officers’ concerns. “We need to see if there are areas that can be improved on, though. We would like to see some international cooperation, if at all possible.”

“What about the NID?” Hammond inquired.

Buffy let out a long sigh. “I applaud the reasoning for the group, but the practices they employ are unacceptable. WWtW isn’t fond of groups that live by the motto ‘The ends justify the means’ as standard practice. While we understand that sometimes you have to do unpleasant things to accomplish your goal, it shouldn’t be your first choice. Long story short, they’ll have to be overhauled. Hopefully there are some redeemable personnel.”

“How would you like to handle your evaluation?” Hammond asked.

“At first, we’d like to speak to all the personnel,” Mark answered. “The teams we’d like to see both as a group and individually. Then we’ll watch operations for a while. Based on past events, it shouldn’t be too long before we see a crisis situation in action.” He held up his hand to stop any defensive comments from the pair in front of him. “Crisis situations are not necessarily indicative of incompetency; sometimes it’s just the nature of the job…like working in an emergency room.”

Both officers backed down at the additional words.

“Colonel O’Neill, please call the rest of your team to the conference room,” Hammond commanded, much to the younger man’s dismay. It appeared as if they weren’t going to try to fight this evaluation.

It was a wary team that entered the conference room less than ten minutes later.

Daniel was taking it the best, being that he was a civilian himself and he wasn’t a huge fan of unchecked military groups. If this WWtW group followed their mission statement, he could see actually liking them.

Teal’c – whose only experience with a group similar to this one had been the NID – had a touch of concern pulsing through his body. Would these people wish to dissect him as well?

Sam was just annoyed that her experiments were interrupted.

That annoyance evaporated when she saw who was waiting in the room. “Mark? Buffy?”

“Captain Carter,” they replied in unison.

“You know them, Carter?” Jack asked in surprise.

“They’re my brother and sister, sir,” Sam said, stunned at the sight of her siblings after so many years.

“We can discuss that after we’ve interviewed you,” Mark stated evenly.

“Isn’t this a conflict of interest given your relationship to Sam?” asked Daniel.

“Our assignment was approved, even with our biological connection,” Buffy answered just as unemotionally as her brother. “Let’s begin…”

Once the team interview was over, they handled the team one at a time, leaving Sam for last. While they were waiting for her turn, Jack asked, “What happened between you three? I’ve felt warmer in Minnesota in January.”

“There was a family falling out, and I took my father’s side against them. I haven’t seen them since the end of my senior year in high school, sir,” Sam answered woodenly.

“That’s a long time for a family disagreement, Carter,” Jack pointed out.

Sam looked at the door separating her from her siblings, then she admitted, “The final fight was just the last straw. Things started falling apart years earlier and Buffy was the one who fought to keep us together. When Dad didn’t give her the benefit of the doubt after trouble at school, she gave up. I tried to justify what he did, and that just made them cut me out, too.”

“What was the trouble?”

“She was accused of burning down the school gym. As soon as she was released from the hospital, he started asking why she did it.”

“I take it that she was innocent?” Jack inquired gently.

Laughing mirthlessly, Sam answered, “Not only was she innocent, she was the last one out because she was helping other people escape.”

Jack let out a low whistle, but didn’t say anything. That wasn’t entirely true; he had plenty he would say, but she looked upset enough that she didn’t need him chewing her out for a mistake she made as a kid.

Soon, it was Sam’s turn to go in.

“Good luck, Carter,” he offered.

“Thanks, sir, I’ll need it,” she answered.