A Way Chapter 2 Finding Them
AO3
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
He knows it worked, straight away. He isn’t in his own time, or even at the stone circle. He is in a cave. The experience had been all Claire had said and more. He stands on shaky feet after feeling like his entire being, body, mind and, soul has been ripped asunder and placed back together.
Stumbling to the mouth of the cave, he looks out into a whole new world. He stares at the cars, wasn’t that what Claire called them, with wide eyes. Definitely, in the future. Now to find Claire. When he hits the sun, the combination of stress and the experience in the center of time, hits him hard and he feels himself, swoon.
“Whoa man, steady now.” He looks up at the strangest dressed men he has ever seen. With strange breeks, a tiny jacket, and a strange piece of cloth, hanging down. He is looking at Jamie with concern. “You seemed to have passed out.”
“I need to get to my wife and child.” Jamie says as he starts to stand. The strange man helps him up.
“Eh, where is your wife?”
“I’m not sure.” He looks around. He isn’t in Scotland. “Where are we?”
“Did you hit your head on the way down?” His accent is thick, unlike any Jamie has ever heard.
“No I…”
“This is Boston son, one of America’s birthplaces.”
“So this is the colonies, err, America?”
“Eh, it is my think you need a doctor son. Come, let me take you to the clinic.”
Jamie’s eyes alight. A grand idea. Claire may be there, as she is, above all, a bawl healer. He finds the clinic a strange place with queer things about. The doctor asks if he had hit his head, shines a strange light in his eyes and, tightens something around his arm to check something with his blood. He doesn’t see Claire.
“Please, can you help me find my wife, Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp Fraser? No, she will be Claire Randall here.” The doctor and nurse exchange a look.
“You just relax. We will check on what we can find.”
At the Randall’s
There is a knock on the door. Frank raises to answer it. A police officer stands at the door. “Sorry to disturb you sir, but is there a Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp Fraser, Randall here?”
“Yes my wife.” He replies with a frown. She comes to the door, cradling Bree.
“Mrs. Randall?”
“Yes?”
“I am sorry to disturb you and the little one ma’am but there is a gentleman at the Boston Health Clinic that is asking after you. Claims to be your husband.” Her eyes get huge and she holds tight to Bree.
“Her husband is right here.”
“What does he look like?”
“A huge man, with red hair and blue eyes. A thick Scottish accent, dressed like he just stepped out of a moving picture set in the 1700’s.”
“Jamie!” she whispers before moving past a stunned Frank and hurrying down the street, still holding tight to Bree.
“Wait Claire!” she hears Frank call but pays him no heed. The health clinic is only a quarter of a mile away.
Jamie sits on the strange table with the strange paper under him. They had explained that they are going to try to find Claire. That she is near, he has no doubt, he feels her. If they can’t find her, he will.
The door opens and he looks up and forgets how to breath. Claire stands at the door, holding a baby with red hair. They stare at each other for a second, before he is up, crushing her, them, to his chest. Gaelic prayers of thanks flow over them. Her tears flow against the familiar feel of his linen shirt.
“How?” She chokes out after a moment.
“I had to see you. The Stones let me through this time.”
“Thank God. Thank God.”
“Claire, is this my daughter?”
“Yes. Meet Brianna Ellen. Bree your daddy.” She hands the baby to him.
“Oh hi lass. You are so beautiful.”
“So are you. I never thought I would see you again.”
“Nor I, you.” He holds his wife and child, close. “Christ Claire, you are still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” She lifts her head up. He holds his daughter in one arm as he draws her close with the other. They are soon kissing. Neither are aware they are being watched.
