A/N: Well will things back at home, now on a stable footing, I can return my attention to this story and to you all reading it. I will keep on it and give this conclusion to the Eureka series a good end. Now onto the next chapter…

Chapter 26 - Bonding

It was in the early evening hours, when the two vehicles came upon a suitable clearing, for setting up camp. They had been traveling for the last three hours and put Eureka in the rear-view mirror, for the weekend; as many of them needed to unwind from the recent events and revelations.

Alex and Kevin started unloading the tents and bags as the ladies gathered the food and toiletries, leaving Jack to keep an eye on Jenna and her now curiosity of the a squirrel in the trees. Alex and Kevin spaced out the three tents to equal distance of one another, setting up the one intended for Jack, Allison and Jenna. Kevin looked around to see everyone was over at a nearby table talking.

"Hey, how is your arm, any problems still?"

Alex looked around, to see if anyone was in earshot.

"Not really, but it has been awhile since that party. I only had once before when me and Aunt Jo went to GD about the attack on Elise's mother."

His answer seem to relax Kevin a bit, as more questions came his way.

"What does it feel like, when it happens? What I saw it looked like your arm, just faded away there man."

Alex took a deep breath, still trying to relax fully from talking or lying to Dallas. As he fit the last stake for the tent, Kevin pressed a button and the GD auto tent came to life. He stepped closer to his brother and spoke.

"Honestly, it was just sheer pain, like someone was ripping me apart, but I could see it fading, but I knew it was still there. I had relax and focus hard to get the pain to subside. I don't have a better way to describe the feeling, but I think it because of me and Dallas coming into contact, our cells have been affected by the time travel and the amount of times it has been done. I just can't let it happen to Elise more than once. I don't want it to affect her like me."

Kevin looked back to Elise and back to his brother.

"Could it happen again, or be worse next time?"

Alex shook his head as they moved to the next tent, setting it up for Kevin and Zoe. With the second one going up, Alex finally answered.

"I don't know bro, I have a feeling it will, but I can't say how bad it will be. I just have to figure this all out and save Mom and Dad before he can strike."

Kevin patted Alex's shoulder as they rose the third and final tent.

"Well saving them, saves you too."

Kevin headed back over to the family as Alex stood alone between the tents, contemplating his brother's words.

"Saving me... I haven't thought about that."

With everything setup, Jack went to work starting the GD grill station and preparing dinner, Alex and Kevin had gathered firewood, leaving Elise and Zoe to do any minor prep for dinner, as Allison relaxed. Jenna didn't seem to be a concern, as Alex had set her up in one of the tents with her sleeping bag and a portable TV. Allison divided her attention, from resting her hands on the baby within her and looking out to the man her unborn child would end up becoming. She felt so much regret to her older self, having to raise the children on her own, see them become bright and resourceful young people, and the amazing parents, she could only hope they would be.

As her attention drifted again to Alex, she caught him walking away from the others and just looking out into the night. She thought now would be a good time to talk. Alex was so withdrawn from himself, he didn't hear his mother creep up next to him and sit on a tree stump nearby. When he focused back, he jumped slightly and smiled at her.

"You know, when I was in the army, there wasn't a person alive that could sneak up on me, now almost my entire family can do it."

Allison smiled as she gestured for Alex to join her.

"Well I can't say I wanted to spook my son, but from here, you jump at almost everything."

Alex smirked as she rubbed her stomach and the womb holding his younger self.

"But that isn't what you're wanting to know, is it? How to scare me?"

Allison shook her head and began talking.

"Baby, I know this family has been through a lot in the last several days, ever since you and Elise arrived, but I see the turmoil that seems to plague all the time. As a mother, we have this feeling about our children that seems to tell us when there is more bothering one of our own than what is told."

She held her gaze on Alex and could see that not having his father in his early years had to have caused a big hole. But she had to wonder how it effected the rest.

"The loss of your father, must have struck us all in different ways, how exactly have we cooped over the upcoming twenty years?"

Alex took a long and hard breath, looking back towards the grill area, blocked by the tents.

"Well, it hit everyone a bit differently… Zoe concentrated on medical school, graduating in three years, instead of the usual four most take. She'd come home for holidays, but we didn't see the 'old' Zoe till the final year when we met her fiancee."

Allison smiled, knowing that Zoe; Jack's first child was able to further her life goals and become a doctor, but also worry about how the loss affected her.

"I think the distance was the only way she was able to cope, but when she was home, she put on blockers to be there for us. Kevin, did his best the keep things going, being there for me and helping me on homework, but he grew his own demons."

Alex spotted Allison's look of dread, and placed a hand on hers, quelling the fear.

"Oh, crap… he didn't turn to drugs or anything Mom, he just lost interest in college for awhile and his grades went down a bit. It wasn't until a girl name Tammy, kicked his butt verbally and possibly literally to get back into a stride. Tammy was like a mother-hen at MIT for him and they still talk…Since Kevin is dating her daughter."

This caused a giggle from Allison and Alex, continuing the story.

"Jenna, well she was a pistol in the teenage years, and the driving force for my inspiration. She kept her head up and made sure we all had a smile somehow. I always called her my 'Fountain of High Spirits'. She's doing what she does best in the future, keeping up everyone's spirits; especially at GD."

Alex took a breath, as he turned to his mother and took a hand.

"You have had your hands full taking care of all of us by yourself Mom. Sure Henry, Grace, Jo and Zane have helped, but you kept us all going, despite how hard this hit you and each year afterwards."

Allison could tell that in Alex's mind, he was remembering a disturbing memory, one that changed not only his fate but also hers.

"What's on you mind Alex? Ever since you got here, you've been lost in the memories and I know you have this duty to help your family, but you need to live your life also. So what is holding your thoughts?"

Alex looked back to his mother, and sighed. He figured it was now a good time to tell of the memory. Alex began explaining the memory of his eighth birthday, how the school had been evacuated due to a student had been experimenting with a prototype fuel and could have destroyed everyone. Alex went on, explaining how ANDY had brought him and Jenna home, to a quiet bunker house. Alex went up to his mother's room and found her in bed, crying solemnly as her hand drew across the uniform of his father. Alex didn't know that each year, before him and his siblings were released from school would take the time to morn for Jack alone, and push it away when they came home to celebrate her youngest son's big day.

In this occasion, Alex walked over to the bed and placed his young hand on his mother's back, causing Allison to jump. After she calmed down, Alex joined her to give her a hug and try lifting her own spirits. Alex patted his mother's hand as he repeated the words the child had said to his mother so long ago.

"If there is ever a way Mom, I will save Dad, and bring him back to you to stop the tears of sadness in this house."

Alex looked to Allison, seeing the same tear filled eyes he had done back then. They took the moments of silence as Jack's voice came out into the air.

"DINNER IS READY EVERYONE…"

The air was at ease, no force behind the gusts, as the fire remained stoked and the family sat around enjoying their meal. Jack and Allison were entertaining everyone with stories of their first meeting, and other adventures in their little town. Their story had taken many years to reach the peak that was their marriage and the family before them as many people can attest to. But it was the moments that made the journey special and willing to take the steps for. Alex had drifted from the conversation once again, as his mind was recalling the notes of how his half-brother had taken his father from them the times before.

Each time, the path started in GD's infirmary, and traversed the many halls and levels to the Section Five vaults. Alex could almost feel the anxiety of trying to catch up and stop the horror that would stab at his soul and the harness to the Carter family, but he could see his failure each time. He was to the point of doubting, as his father continued his current tale.

"The Matrix replicants had all but taken the entire town, as Allison and Fargo found the warehouse, and all of the towns people conscious. Fargo had found the Smart-Dust console and was trying to reconfigure, so we could amplify Zane's Z-wave bomb, stopping the replicants. Allison and I were making a run for the cabin, to use the satellite dish to disperse the signal, but as all our plans the replicants thought like us and followed.

I had to leave Allison to attune the dish as my replicant fell through the roof and attacked me. Luckily Allison set off the bomb and place the replicants' computer brains into sleep mode. They are now in the lower vaults at GD, until we can figure out what to do with them."

Alex had been leaning back in his chair as the last of Jack's tale came to a close, but fell back to the ground, sending him and his plate in different directions. Amongst the laughing, Jack helped his son to his feet and saw the wheels in his head spinning.

"The Matrix replicants…. they're robotic… artificial..?"

Puzzled by his son's question, the two turned to Allison who was also among the confused.

"Yes, Alex… they are photonic brains inside bio-printed…"

Alex settled his feet and knelt in-front of his mother, a slight smile growing.

"So they are both real and artificial in the best sense?"

Allison nodded as Alex lowered his head and people could see him shoulders shake and faint hint of him laughing. When he looked up, tears could be seen on his face as he looked to his father.

"I think I may know a way to save you after all Dad… At the least a damn good beginning."

Allison put Jenna to bed as the rest sat around the fire, applying more wood and keeping it ablaze. When Allison returned, Alex laid out the beginnings of his idea.

Alex found himself pacing by the fire as Jack exited his tent, and peered into the other two. Kevin and Zoe had already crashed as the day's activities and Alex's plan had taken all the strength they had. Allison and Jenna were down and he could see Elise turning alone in the tent for her and Alex. It was then he saw Alex and walked over to him. He could hear some muttering and clasped his shoulder. Alex didn't flinch this time, but settled and looked to his father.

"Its hard to shut of the brain sometimes huh?"

Alex nodded and smirked. Jack walked over to the fire pale, about to douse the fire, but knelt in-front of it.

"You have a good plan there son, but as you said, its not complete. So we have some work and a lot of planning ahead of us."

Alex stepped away from the fire and looked out towards the moon above.

"Its a hell of a risk, it could backfire something fierce."

Jack put down the pale and walked next to Alex, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"This is true, but don't doubt this family, we've had a knack for doing the impossible."

Alex acknowledged his father, as Jack ushered him to his tent, before turning back to the fire.

"Let's enjoy the weekend, and come Monday, we'll figure this out. Now get some sleep."

Alex climbed into his tent, zipping it up as Jack put out the fire.

A/N: So what could this big plan be that involves the Matrix Replicant of Jack Carter? Alex seems to be confident that it will be pivotal to stopping Dallas, but it seems that this is only a small part to a larger idea. We'll not have to wait long for more to be made clear. Until the next chapter my friends…