Note: If you are rude enough to send a flame, you will be added to the spam list. I don't mind something constructive. If you don't like what I'm writing, though, I encourage you to write your own stories. These are scenes I want to see. The Back button works.
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While the rest of the world gathered to care for the fall-out victims, the Chinese representatives transferred to Geneva. Jack spent most of the night discussing the treaty with Tien and his council. They were suspicious of the United States governing from behind, and it was all Jack and Daniel could do to convince them that nothing was further from the truth. Nothing would change except that China had to promise to treat its people better, to provide education to all, no matter what class or caste, and to provide medical care to all. Because of past relations, though, Jack would only agree to place a few Chinese personnel on the Prometheus and the Europa, where they would be watched closely and need to prove their loyalty to Earth, not China.
Tien was informed that his family was transferred to Kamchatka. Talks were put on hold as Jack called up and had them beamed to the Russian peninsula. The hospital was a madhouse with sick people piled up in hallways and corners, and medical personnel rushing to take care of the worst of them. After the Chernobyl accident many years earlier, Russian hospitals knew how to take care of radiation poisoning. Jack spotted a HomeSec pilot uniform helping to direct traffic and keep what order they could.
“Airman! Where is President Tien’s family?”
“Sir!” the pilot saluted and led them to another floor. People overflowed everywhere; not even the VIP suites were private rooms. An older woman stood as Tien and Jack entered. Tien went to her and listened as she spoke low, her dignity barely hanging on.
“My youngest grandson,” Tien told Jack. “He ran out onto the balcony to watch.” They went further into the room where a small boy, about 4, lay covered in bandages on the bed. Other people stood as Jack entered. Probably the boy’s parents. The child saw Tien and tried not to cry. Tien touched the child’s head and murmured to him. The boy gave a nod. Jack stayed in the background and reached. The child was in shock, clinging to the last of his pride so that he wouldn’t shame his grandfather.
“Pull the curtain and tell your family to stay on the other side,” Jack whispered to Tien. The president scowled at him. “Will you cut the crap and please do it?” Narrow eyes narrowed to a slit. Finally, Tien growled at his family. Clearly disapproving, they stepped back and pulled the curtain around the bed. Jack stepped up to the bed.
“Hi, buddy,” he said gently to the boy. He gave a wave. “Hi. I know you don’t feel good, but let’s see if we can make you feel a little better, ok?”
He put one hand on the boy’s chest and the other hand on the black hair, gently stroking as he soothed the boy with hummed sounds. Jack wasn’t sure if it would work on radiation wounds, or on so much radiation. The boy would probably live on his own, he didn’t look nearly as bad as Daniel did a few years before, but Jack needed to try and do something with all the tissue that was damaged. After several minutes, Tien drew a shocked breath. Red blotches on the boy’s face and hands had begun to disappear. The boy started to relax and fall asleep.
“Miracle?” Tien whispered.
“No,” Jack said, stroking the soft black hair. “The World Health Organization sent you information on evolutionary changes. It’s all true. This is just something that’s happening with me, so I help when I can. I can’t help everyone; I’m one person, so I’m asking that you keep it to yourself. I’m making the first gesture toward trust, Hsin. I don’t give a crap about proper procedure or who has the biggest toys; all of this proves that we need to get beyond that kind of thinking. It’s your turn.”
Tien allowed himself a small shudder before touching his grandson’s face and hands.
When they returned to Geneva, Jack and Daniel beamed back to the Pentagon, leaving the professional HomeSec mediators to deal with the details. Jack confessed and Daniel wasn’t sure exposing himself to Tien like that had been a good thing to do but it was done. They were exhausted as Jack went to find Sam in Vidrine’s office and Daniel went to find food. Vidrine’s personnel were red-eyed and pale, carrying on with their work. The general had been officially removed from life-support late the previous evening. Jack murmured condolences to everyone and went into the office. Sam looked up in irritation at the interruption and then fell back into the chair when she saw her husband.
“Oh, my God, Jack, how do you do this every day?” she asked, trying not to mess her mascara as she rubbed at her eyes. “It’s all I can do to keep projects going. I’m supposed to be signing things, but I have no idea what I’m signing or even if I should be signing.”
“Has Davis been in to help?” he asked.
“A couple of times,” she said. “I’m trying not to call him with every little thing; he’s your assistant, not mine. I asked him to get with Major Ellsinore to take care of the details of the memorial for General Vidrine.”
“That’s fine,” Jack said. “Sam, listen to me.” He sat on the edge of her desk. “Colonel Taylor is currently packing up his office. He’s being given his stars so that he can take this office. The Joint Chiefs considered you; I talked them out of it. I wanted you to hear it from me.”
He watched her considering the information as she leaned back in the chair and tugged at her uniform.
“Can I ask why?” she carefully asked.
“Because you don’t have experience with large commands,” he said. “You have team and departmental commands under you. Taylor has commanded a base for eight years. You are going to be groomed for this spot, though, so you will be taking over as the CO of Area 51 as of Monday. You can use the arches to come home for the night.”
At least she wasn’t yelling at him or giving him accusing looks. Instead, she was quiet as she looked at her uniform, desk, hands.
“Thank you,” she finally said. “For being honest with me. I agree that I’m not ready for this chair, and I feel better knowing it isn’t mine. Yet.”
Jack gave her a smile and leaned down to kiss her.
“You’ll make general some day,” he promised. “Happy birthday?”
She stood and put her arms around his neck for a hug.
“Come on, let’s go home,” he said, patting her back. “It’s Saturday and we really are not needed here. Daniel is getting something from the commissary; we can find him on the way out. We need cake and ice cream and presents and get in some time with our kids.”
She agreed and kissed him. He tightened his arms, feeling the familiar warmth start to tingle as they tasted each other. Until a throat was cleared behind them.
“Major?” Sam questioned, not releasing Jack’s neck as she leaned her chin on his shoulder to look over.
“Uh, sorry, ma’am. Sir.” Ellsinore wasn’t sure about the protocol breech when it came to married couples. “Did, uh, is there anything I can do? I mean…..”
Sam’s eyes sparkled with humor, and Jack stood and turned. The poor major was trying not to shift nervously.
“At ease, major,” Jack said. “Did General Maynard talk with you?”
“Yes, sir,” Ellsinore said, glad to have a specific topic. “The memorial for General Vidrine will be on Tuesday, sir. Christ Hope Church. Colonel Taylor will have his promotion by then, and he will speak at the memorial. Will you and Colonel Carter be attending?”
“Of course,” they both said. “Major, was there an autopsy?” Jack asked.
“It’s in the process, sir,” Ellsinore said, considering him. “Do you suspect something, sir?”
“No, not really,” Jack said thoughtfully. “I’d like to have a copy of the results.”
“Yes, sir.”
Sam gathered her things and left the major to take care of Vidrine’s office.
“Ma’am?” She turned to Ellsinore. “Would it be presumptuous to offer a well-done, even though it was only one day with bad, extenuating circumstances?”
“Thank you, major,” Sam said, and accepted his honors.
They found Daniel and helped him with the hamburger which he watched disappear. Not in a rush, they took a car to Andrews. Most of the base personnel were on duty seeing to the needs of VIP’s who were landing and taking off to help deal with the crisis in Asia. As they hopped off the jeep that took them out to a far field where the al kesh was being closely guarded, there was a small pop in the air. Jack paused and then fell to the ground.
“JACK! Medics!” Sam shouted as she hunched over Jack’s still form, holding her hands tightly over the bleeding hole in his chest. Daniel ran to the al kesh and jumped inside. He returned a moment later, a zat in hand as he crouched over Sam. Personnel scrambled, guns drawn as the sniper was searched for and medical personnel were shielded on their way out to the al kesh. SF quickly estimated the direction of the bullet and began running out to the field on the far side of the runway. Daniel hit his comm.
“Europa, this is Dr. Jackson! General O’Neill is down! Sniper at Andrews Air Base! Get us up and have medical standing by, the general’s been hit in the chest!”
The entire party was immediately beamed up and put down in the infirmary.
“Call Heaven’s Bow!” Sam shouted as medical teams came running. “Get Jonathan O’Neill over here NOW!” The EMT’s from the base stepped back to allow the ship’s doctors and nurses to take over and prep Jack for surgery. The moment Jonathan beamed in and saw the action, he put himself on a bed and stripped off the leather so that his arms and veins could be gotten to. There was a standing order to use the two men as transplants for each other, no questions asked. So no one asked.
“What the hell happened?!” Jonathan demanded as nurses began digging for a vein. They glanced at him and then each other, not used to hearing such command from a teenager. Daniel told him while Sam looked at the blood covering her hands. She went to a sink and began to wash. Someone put clean scrubs next to her.
Jonathan searched for his comm and informed his ship of the happenings. A clipped response came through and Jonathan tossed the comm down, leaning back on the bed at the insistence of the nurse.
As the operation commenced, Daniel called home. Paul assured him that the air base was being scoured, every rock turned over, every blade of grass searched. The SF from their neighborhood closed in to guard the house and the kids. Michael would tell the kids that Jack was hurt and in surgery and they were not to worry. Michael must have been holding the baby because Daniel heard a rush of babbling and a raspberry spit.
Daniel stood behind Sam as they watched from the gallery. She took his hands and wrapped herself in his arms.
“I don’t like this birthday present,” she whispered.
Twelve hours later, Dr. Warner looked up at them and held up a thumb. He had been beamed up after the first time Jack arrested; being familiar with Jack’s sliced open anatomy. Jack had arrested twice during surgery and then they had a hard time getting his right lung re-inflated.
“This is strange,” Warner said when they got to the infirmary. The doctor tugged on the stethoscope around his neck as he considered Jack recovering on a bed. “It’s almost as though his own body was fighting us. Even his vital signs are better than they should be for 20 minutes out of heavy surgery. I’m not complaining, certainly; it’s possible that these developments he’s been going through have something to do with the variations.”
“Could they have caused the arrests?” Sam asked, gently taking one of Jack’s hands and sitting at his side.
“Possibly,” Warner admitted. “If we were interfering with a normal function. Normal now, that is. Colonel, he really needs to get in for a full physical, once he’s on his feet. Obviously, there have been changes and we need to record them so that we can treat him properly in the future.”
“Let’s get him back to his old obnoxious self before we deal with that, doctor,” Daniel said. Warner agreed and moved to read the monitors once more, frowning as he made notes.
“Daniel,” Sam whispered. “See if you can find him. You know…”
He nodded and leaned in close to Jack’s still form, taking a limp hand. “I’m not good at initiating,” he warned her.
“That’s ok, just try,” she said, needing to know.
To anyone watching from a distance, they would have assumed the two were in prayer over Jack, heads bowed, eyes closed, hands clasped. Daniel concentrated; a false start. Relax, he told himself. Out, not in. He sent his awareness out toward Jack, toward that familiar sense of Jack’s essence. He found blackness.
“Jack,” Daniel called. He called again, several times until he felt a presence near him. “Come on, Jack, you’re alright.”
“Wha…happen…..”
“Someone shot you,” Daniel told him “You’re on Europa. Dr. Warner and everyone worked on you for a long time. You had us scared. Are you in pain?”
“A little,” Jack said. Daniel felt him closer. He could feel the heightening pain as Jack struggled to regain consciousness.
“I’ll get more pain meds for you,” Daniel said. “We’re here, Jack; Sam is right next to you. The kids are fine; mom and Michael are with them, we’ve been keeping them updated. Don’t you worry about anything except getting well.”
“Love….you….”
“We know you do,” Daniel said. “We love you, too. Just heal. Sleep, relax, don’t worry about anything. There is nothing you need to be doing except getting better.”
Daniel opened his eyes. “He’s fine,” he told Sam. “He’s in a little pain. He should be conscious soon.”
“Let him wake up before he gets more pain meds,” she said, relief on her face as she put her forehead to Jack’s hand.
“What happened?”
They looked at Warner who was frowning at the equipment.
“What do you mean?” Sam asked.
“It looked almost like….” He tapped one of the monitors. “There was an extra brain wave pattern for a few seconds.” He pointed to a recorded section of the EKG.
“Just a glitch,” Daniel suggested.
“These machines don’t get glitches, Dr. Jackson.”
Sam and Daniel shrugged their ignorance.
The door opened and Jonathan walked in with Shara.
“You should be resting, Mr. O’Neill,” Warner said in disapproval. “You’re three pints low.”
“I’m fine,” Jonathan said. He lifted his hand, showing an orange. “See? I’m good. How is he?”
“He should be awake soon,” Daniel said. “He’s in a little pain, but that can be dealt with when he’s awake.”
“How do you know he’s in pain?” Warner asked.
“Wouldn’t you be?” Daniel responded.
Warner looked suspicious, starting to guess that something was up.
“Hey, doc, look at this,” Jonathan said, holding out an arm. “I’m bruising already. I think those nurses need a little extra time in the practice room.” Warner reluctantly looked at Jonathan’s arm which was turning purple.
“Bruising is not good,” Shara informed the doctor, not at all happy.
“I’m sorry,” Warner said, having had bigger and more menacing aliens growl at him. “They were in a rush. Maybe everyone should wait outside the room,” he suggested. “Give General O’Neill some quiet time.”
“He’s fine,” Daniel said. Shara put a hand on Jack’s chest, mindful of the bandages.
“He’s fine,” he said in echo, withdrawing his hand.
Warner scowled and then paused, looking at the machines again.
“There it is again,” he said, pointing at the brainwave activity. “Would you put your hand on him again?” Shara put a hand back on Jack’s chest. Warner shook his head, watching the readout. “Nothing. Must be coincidence.”
“Let’s go outside, anyway,” Jonathan said. “We need to talk.”
They went to a private conference room and made a guard sit and stay outside the door.
“Couple of things,” Jonathan said as they sat at the table. “First, Happy Birthday, Sam.” He pulled a small case out of the bag at his waist and pushed it across to her.
Sam smiled and took it. “Thank you, Jonathan.” She opened it and found a bracelet. The redness of the metal and the small stones sparkled.
“That is gold from Sua,” he told her. “It looked red. I thought it was cool. And I know you liked that red glass, so I had that made for you.”
“It’s beautiful, thank you,” she assured him. Daniel helped her put it around her wrist.
“Now. Second. What was that all about?” Jonathan jerked a thumb in the general direction of outside.
“They figured out how to jump planes,” Shara said with a smile as he leaned back and put his leather-booted feet on the table. “Not too bad, considering they’ve been together just under a year. A little slow, but not too bad.”
“Feet down,” Sam told him. The boots were removed.
“Oh.” Jonathan thought for a moment and then shook his head to clear it.
“Jumping planes?” Sam asked. “What do you mean?”
“That mind thing we’ve been playing with,” Daniel guessed. “We’re not actually going to another plane for that.”
“No?” Shara asked. “As you will. Go on, dadu.”
“Anyway,” Jonathan began again. “Someone dumped a man’s body on Maynard’s front lawn. The rifle that was with it matched the bullet Warner had sent down for ballistics. It wasn’t us.”
“Is there an ID?” Sam asked.
“Don’t know,” Jonathan said. “It’s been pretty hush-hush. The press is making a big to-do about Jack being shot, though. The fact that a bullet was used seems to tell them that it wasn’t an alien. Like aliens can’t learn to use guns.”
The door opened and Colonel Belarus stuck his head in.
“Come in, colonel,” Daniel invited. The ship’s commander shouldn’t be left standing out in the hall.
“Am I interrupting?” Belarus asked. “I apologize for not attending to you earlier. The evacuations have been more involved than I realized.”
“How’s that going?” Sam asked. Belarus looked tired as he sat at the table.
“It is slowing down,” he said. “We’ve done what we could. China’s east coast is a mess. Fish and sea birds are turning belly up, plant life is dying. As for Korea…. The very south and the very north are inhabitable. Russia has offered them a community in Khrebet Sikhote Alin. It’s close to Korea. A little colder. But much of it is unoccupied, so they can make a new home.”
“Paying taxes to Russia, of course,” Daniel said.
“Of course,” Belarus agreed with a nod. “Russia will not give up the land to another country. If the Koreans wish to live there, they may, but it is Russian land. They may go elsewhere, if they wish.” He sipped from his ever-present cup of tea. “The death count is at just over 20 million and still counting. Along the central corridor of the Korean peninsula is a mass grave. This is a very bad thing that has happened.”
There was silence for a moment as they tried not to allow the mental image to dwell on their minds.
“So, good news,” Belarus said. “The general woke up momentarily. He was given pain meds and he is now sleeping. Dr. Warner is satisfied with the progress. He is a little jumpy as to why and how the general is healing a little quicker than normal.” The colonel’s expression was bland as he sipped his tea. “Apparently the wound has begun showing signs of self-repair.”
The other four blinked innocently at him. Belarus chuckled and stood.
“Oh, Colonel Carter,” he turned and lifted a finger in thought. “Word is going around that you are the new commander of Area 51. Congratulations. General Taylor says to take your time up here but he would like you in your office tomorrow, long enough to address the troops, and then you can return here, if you need to.”
Sam’s eyes widened. “Oh, my God, I completely forgot!” Daniel leaned over and kissed her cheek, smiling at her.
“Really?” Jonathan asked. “Area 51? Sam, that’s great. Congratulations. You’re buying the drinks, right?”
Sam and Daniel stopped in to see Jack and kiss his face before beaming home. When no one was looking, Sam lifted the bandage on Jack’s chest. The sides of the wound had new skin growth.
“He should be home in a couple days,” Daniel said quietly. Sam agreed and looked at the huddle of doctors who were trying to understand the latest SG-1 weirdness. It was unspoken common knowledge that Jack was doing unusual things in the realm of healing, but to heal his own gunshot wound to the chest which almost cost him a lung?
The children were happy to see them, as was the puppy who didn’t know why he was excited but the children were, so he was, too. Maggie had a few friends over, keeping vigil with her while they played cards.
“He’s doing good, mom,” Sam told her. Maggie wiped her face and hugged Sam and then Daniel. “Would you like to go up and see him?” Maggie wanted to. Sam called the ship and had Maggie beamed up. The other old ladies around the table were impressed and they packed up their cards and chips. Sam hauled the baby out of her swing and cooed at her.
“Michael, thank you for staying with the kids,” Daniel said, touching Michael’s shoulder. “How are things here?” He picked Stacy up, groaning under her weight as she settled her legs around his waist. He didn’t comment on the feel of a strap under her shirt.
“A little shaky,” Michael said. “Everyone is fine, though. A handful of refugees were brought here to the Academy Hospital, so the town is going all out to help. Katie wanted to help. We talked about it, we thought she was a little young, but we allowed her to volunteer at the hospital. Dr. Lam is keeping an eye on her.”
“It’s alright,” Sam said as Daniel nodded. “She’ll be taking her M-SATs next year, so this may be a good time for her to see the worst of it before she gets into medical school with stars in her eyes.”
“It’ll also look good on her records,” Daniel commented. “Won’t it, pumpkin?” He tweaked the baby’s cheek, making her smile.
“What are m sats?” Davy asked, having heard the word but not an explanation.
“It is a test seniors take to see if they can get into medical school,” Daniel told him. “Everyone else just takes regular SATs. The M means medical. People wanting to get into law school and become a lawyer, take L-SATs. The higher your score, the better college you can get into.”
“Did you have a high score?” Davy asked.
“Yes, I did,” he nodded.
“Daddy?”
“Yes, sweetheart.”
“You need a shower.”
The adults laughed and Daniel put her down.
“Yes, I do,” he agreed. “I’ve been a little too busy to take one. I’ll take one right now, ok?”
That was fine with Stacy.
“Can we go and see adda later?” she asked.
“He’ll be home soon,” Sam told her. “He’s resting. He had a very long surgery, so how about waiting until he’s home?”
Before Daniel went to their room, he stopped and touched Matthew’s shoulder.
“He’s alright. Really,” he assured the boy. Matthew had been quiet with worry.
It took them a minute to figure out why Tommy was playing hoops in the back yard. Sam and Daniel winced when they remembered they were babysitting for a couple of weeks.
“Tommy, how’s your mom?” Sam asked. “Have you talked with her?”
“She’s in Washington,” Tommy said. “Dr. Thorn said his partner, Tony, was going to get her settled in and show her what to do and that I’ll come out after school. Dr. Thorn has a webcam on his computer, so I can talk with mom on the internet, if that’s ok with you guys.”
“That’s fine with us,” Sam said. “I’ll get Matthew’s computer set up for you to talk with your mom.”
Tommy was uneasy as he stared at the ball.
“Colonel Carter? Dr. Thorn said he’s in charge of the World Health Organization,” he commented. “I’ve heard of them. They’re pretty big, huh?”
“The biggest,” Sam said. “And yes, Dr. Thorn is the Director-General. He’s in charge.”
“He’s important, then,” Tommy said thoughtfully. “Is he nice? He seems nice, but a lot of people start out nice.”
Sam looked at Daniel and then sat on a plastic lawn chair. “Well, I’ve only met him a couple of times, but I think he’s nice,” she said. “I know that General O’Neill likes him, and so does Daniel.” Daniel nodded and murmured an agreement. “And he’s an old friend of Colonel Davis, and the colonel likes him very much. So I think he’s an ok guy. You can ask Colonel Davis about him, if you’d like.”
The boy stared at the ball, his shoulders stiff as he looked away from the adults.
“What’s on your mind, Tommy?” Daniel gently asked.
“Am….am I really going to see my mom again?” the boy asked, a quiver in his voice. Sam and Daniel were both shocked to hear the question.
“Of course, you are!” they told him. Daniel took the ball and put a hand on Tommy’s shoulder.
“The only reason you’re not with her now is because of school,” Daniel told him. “Summer vacation starts in a couple of weeks, and it wouldn’t be good to transfer you to another school now. As soon as school is done, you’ll fly out to DC and you and your mom will be together. I promise.” Daniel bent down, face to face with the boy.
“Look at it this way,” Daniel said. “You’re living in General O’Neill’s house. How cool is that? You’ll see aliens and people beaming in and out, and if we take the kids anywhere, you’ll come with us. It was pretty cool meeting the president and Mrs. Hayes, wasn’t it? See, there? Things happen all the time around here.”
By the next day, Jack was grumbling from his bed on the Europa, insisting that he was fine and he wanted to go home. He’d make it an order, if he needed to. Dr. Warner reminded him that medical orders out-weighted those of grouchy old men. Jack glared. Sam and Daniel sat back and let Jack’s grumbles go in one ear and out the other. The baby pointed a finger at him and babbled. Jack pretended to eat the finger and Olivia screeched. Jack winced and pulled at his left ear.
“Wow, the decibels,” he commented.
“You are staying put, Jonathan,” his mother informed him. “My orders out-weight yours, too.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Maggie made herself at home on the ship as she took care of Jack. He drew the line at allowing her to give him a sponge bath.
“I bathed you for years,” she informed him. “You’ve got nothing I haven’t seen before.”
He took the washcloth from her and flung it across the room before yanking out all the tubes, pulling a sheet around himself, and shuffling to the shower. He hadn’t been under the warm stream for two minutes before Warner was pounding on the door.
“This isn’t funny, general!”
Jack felt better, though, and the nurses had put fresh sheets on his bed by the time he returned. His partners showed up a few hours later, let the children see that he was fine, and sent them to the rec room while they listened to Warner tattle on his patient.
Sam looked at Jack’s chest. The bullet hole was completely closed with new, healthy pink skin.
“How’s his lung?” she asked. Warner shoved the chart under his arm.
“That isn’t the point, colonel,” he sputtered.
“Isn’t it?” she interrupted. “If your patient is healthy, what’s the point in keeping his lazy butt in the bed?”
“Yeah!” Jack spouted. He then thought about what he was agreeing to.
“He shouldn’t be healthy,” Warner tried to reason with her. “We need to know….”
“Ah, HA!” Jack pointed a triumphant finger into the air. Olivia pointed, too. “I am not a guinea pig! If my lung is working, all the holes are fixed, I want to go home.”
They called Dr. Lam. “If he wants to die at home, let him,” the CMO told them.
Warner stormed out of the infirmary and Jack sent everyone except his partners out as he dressed in a flight suit that was left for him.
“Jack, you do understand that about 40 hours ago, you were shot in the chest, collapsed a lung, arrested twice on the table, and we have only your word that you feel alright,” Daniel said as Jack pulled socks on.
“I’m fine, Daniel,” Jack said. “Don’t ask me to explain it, just trust me that I’m fine.”
They found Belarus, thanked him for his hospitality, and rounded up the kids to beam home. They quickly threw on full-dress and had Europa beam them to Washington. Heavily armed SF drove them to the church and they entered silently. Many people, who had turned to see who was coming in, were shocked to see Jack up and about and assumed that the press had been their usual hyperbole selves. Jack did have to admit that he was out of breath by the time they arrived and maybe he should have stayed in bed for another day. They ignored the rustling at their entrance, found seats next to Paul and paid attention to the speakers who stood to praise Vidrine.
One person after another stood and spoke, sometimes a favorite hymn interspersed the speeches. Hammond and Maynard carefully avoided giving Jack more than a cursory glance. Both Sam and Paul spoke, having worked closely with the deceased. Gavin Taylor, formerly the CO of Area 51, newly made general, also spoke. Some liberties were taken, assigning Vidrine the title of hero, saying that he had been the spine behind all the alien technology when actually he understood only about one percent of it. He pushed the paper and was good at management, allowing his people to do their jobs and not micro-managing.
Glancing unobtrusively around the church, Jack spotted a face he was sure he knew. A young man. Jack recognized the position of the young man’s seating; he could see every person in the room from that position. Hammond caught Jack’s eyes for a moment. Grant Kendrick. Jonathan’s AF academy friend. Jack lifted an eyebrow but otherwise didn’t make a reaction.
Vidrine’s wife and children were teary and holding themselves proud, as befitting the family of a Pentagon general. Curious, Jack reached. Curiouser and curiouser, he thought to himself, pulling back.
“Isn’t it?” he heard in his head. He looked around and saw Kendrick staring at him. “I find Baker to be interesting, also.” He sent some interesting information Jack’s way. Jack sent a feeler at the Secretary of Defense. And snarled to himself for not doing it earlier.
He stood to take his turn at the podium and paused to lean on the edge of the pew. He jerked his head and Daniel hurriedly stood to offer his arm. They walked slowly, carefully to the front of the church. Jack leaned on the podium as Daniel stood to the side.
“I apologize for our earlier interruption,” he began, making a face as he touched his chest. “General Vidrine’s death was a shock to us. Our hearts go out to his family. Without General Vidrine’s support, the Research and Development department would not have survived. He pushed continually for funding, understanding and stressing the importance of the work as it related to the defense of this country. He was among the leaders that I looked to for guidance, and I have seen his hand in the personal growth of others.
“When I first met General Vidrine, he had come out to our testing facility to witness the first glider we had come up with, the X-301. Unfortunately, there was a serious flaw with the glider and I almost died in space, along with a close friend and team member. General Vidrine stayed on hand to witness our dilemma, and our eventual rescue, and I am grateful for the prayers he offered during the incident. I’m sure someone was listening from on high, and I feel safer knowing that he is now helping that Someone to take notice of all that is happening down here and maybe help to set an example to those of us who still find ourselves in need of his guidance.”
Jack stumbled slightly as he caught Daniel’s arm again, his hand waving to catch his balance and then going to his chest once more.
“Do you need to….?” Daniel whispered in concern. Jack shook his head and they went back to their seats. Sam leaned over to him, also very concerned. Jack shook her off and paid attention to the next speaker.
After the memorial, they stood in line to offer condolences to the family. The crowd was polite and moved in an orderly fashion, despite the elbow to shoulder squeezing. Several people leaned in to quietly ask Jack about his health. He assured them he was fine, just a little weak from the surgery.
“Jack, should you be out of bed?” Hammond asked when they crossed paths.
“Not according to Warner,” Jack whispered. “I’m fine. How’s the Missus?”
Hammond had the decency to pink up a little. “She’s fine, thank you.”
“I think I want your little monkey off-world, George,” Jack whispered again. “I think I want him on Kalam. He needs special training.”
“I think so, too,” Hammond said, slightly grim over losing a talented cadet.
“They’re in orbit. He can go back with them,” Jack said. Hammond agreed.
They came to the family and shook hands, murmuring appropriate offerings. Jack looked around as they left the building. Hayes and his wife were already gone, as per Jack’s silent orders. They caught up with Maynard who excused himself from his wife’s side.
“My wife sometimes uses this,” Maynard said, handing Jack a walking cane. “Arthritis.” Jack thanked Mrs. Maynard and used the cane to walk away from Daniel and Sam.
“Mr. Baker,” Jack called out as they approached the man. “Can we talk for a moment? I was out of line the other day, and I’d like to apologize. Please.” The Secretary of Defense was still slightly ruffled but he agreed to walk with them.
“Ah, Ken.” Jack looked up at the darkening sky and breathed in the cool evening air. “You’ve been a naughty boy, Ken. Ah ah. Walk with us, Kenny.” Jack took the man’s struggling arm in a friendly grasp.
“What’s the meaning of this, general?” Baker asked, keeping his voice low. “You’re already treading thin ice.”
“When we turn the corner, you will be arrested, Kenny,” Jack told him. “I’m afraid I need to insist. The charges are murder, attempted murder, conspiracy, and treason. By the time you get to the holding cell, all the evidence will be on General Maynard’s desk. In about a week, when people begin to notice your absence, those charges will be leaked to the press. But don’t worry, you won’t be alone; Mrs. Vidrine will be joining you.”
Baker stopped. “You’re insane, general,” he hissed, looking around.
“That’s a possibility,” Jack agreed. “But the evidence is real and so are the charges. Ah. Your chariot, sir.”
As they turned the corner, Baker paled at the sight of MPs waiting for them. Jack halted and turned to Baker.
“You’re an archaeology buff, Mr. Secretary,” Jack said. “You met privately with a certain dead professor in Florida, you brought visitors back to DC and infected Mrs. Hayes and Senator Friedman, as well as sending the visitors around the globe to infect others. Why did you not carry one, yourself, I wonder? Mr. Kendrick?”
The cadet stepped out from a dark car and slowly approached.
“It’s ok, son, go ahead,” Jack nodded. Baker wasn’t sure what the boy was doing, staring at him.
“Leverage, sir,” Grant said, staring into Baker’s eyes. “He knows about Colonel Carter and knows that if she got near him she’d sense him if he was holding a …visitor. So he convinced them to let him stay unattached in exchange for….. his own territory.”
“Territory?” Jack and Maynard both questioned. “What territory? There are no ha’tok’s in the area, so how would he get there?”
Baker lifted his chin and glared at them. “There is a mothership hidden in this solar system, but you won’t find it, general….”
“On Mars,” Grant reported. Baker tried to pull away, wondering who the hell the kid was.
“No, there isn’t,” Jack said. He pulled his cell phone out and dialed. “This is O’Neill. Point that thing at Mars and tell me if you see anything.” He waited. “Thank you.”
“Nothing on Mars except dust,” he said. “You’ve been had, Kenny-boy. I’ve said over and over not to trust those sneaky snakes.”
“Sir?” Grant interrupted. “The promised territory was Earth.”
“Idiot,” Jack informed the man. Baker lunged at Jack, caught his right arm, pulled it behind his back and held a knife at his throat. Guns were instantly produced and pointed.
“Come on, Ken,” Maynard tried reasonably. “You know you won’t get out of this alive.”
Jack slammed an elbow into Baker’s side and slid out of the hold to turn and punch the man. “You don’t sneak up on a man like that,” he informed Baker. “I’m not well, if you haven’t heard.” He slammed the heel of his hand at Baker’s head and the man went down. Maynard nodded to the SS that were waiting with the MPs. Baker struggled and was escorted by insistent secret service.
“Mr. Kendrick.” Jack slung an arm around Grant’s shoulders.
“I know, sir,” the young man said, not liking it.
“Yes, you do, son, and that’s the problem,” Jack said gently. He touched his comm. “I need Ninurta and Jonathan, please. If they are available.”
When the two were front and center, Jack had a quiet talk with them. Ninurta agreed that it was in Grant’s best interest to be off-world. He promised the young man a chance to see his family and to tell them that he was on an off-world mission and he’d be back.
“We come around all the time,” Jonathan assured him. “Don’t worry, you’ll see them soon. You’ll like Kalam, I guarantee it.”
“Your records will reflect that you graduated with honors, son,” Maynard told Grant. “Your records will be classified as Security Level 8 under HomeWorld Security. That is the max. Colonel Carter and Dr. Jackson are Level 8’s, if that offers you perspective. No one should be asking you any questions. You will officially hold the rank of lieutenant as of this moment. Once every five or so years, you will be promoted. Your paychecks will be automatically deposited and available to you when you are home. See General O’Neill, if you have any problems. Of course, this all happens if you remain in the air force. You do owe us some time, which you can work off off-world.” The young man stood nervously as he accepted his fate, and offered them salutes before heading off with his friend, Jonathan. Ninurta was amused at the gloom and doom emanating from his new recruit.
Maynard and Jack walked back to the church after seeing Grant beam out with the other two. Jack kicked the cane around, swinging it back and forth.
“That was very sneaky of you, Jack,” Maynard commented. “Using hand signals to notify us. Were you really shot?”
“Yup, I was,” Jack nodded. “Ask Dr. Warner. He’s very pissed that I’m not in bed.”
“I’ll bet he is and I’ll be hearing about it. And Mrs. Vidrine was involved how?” Maynard asked. “I should probably know in case someone asks me.”
“They were having an affair,” Jack said. “She was going to be his queen. Vidrine’s autopsy showed several blood clots in his brain and small puncture wounds on his body. He was injected. They hired a sniper to take me out because my death would have caused enough of an upset that they would have gotten away with the planet. Not to toot my own horn, mind you.”
“And how did that body get on my lawn?” Maynard asked.
“Sorry,” Jack shook his head. “You’ve got me on that one.”
Maynard shook his head in time with Jack’s. “It’s probably a good thing Mr. Kendrick is leaving,” he said. “When I think of all the information flooding into his head….”
“Yes,” Jack agreed. “He’d be assassinated a month after knowledge of him got out. The Furlings will teach him how to control it. I can’t, I’m just getting the hang of my own stuff and more is happening.”
He stopped and turned. “Kendrick said all the evidence will be on your desk. Francis, this won’t go to trial,” he warned.
“I know,” Maynard nodded, grim. He looked at the ground for a moment and then at the church. “Jack, whatever happens, it cannot touch my office.”
“Don’t worry,” Jack said. “I have a feeling it won’t be touching any office. You just concentrate on spin control.”
They watched Sam and Daniel waiting for them.
“Jack, are you sure you can trust the Anunnaki? Furlings? Whomever,” Maynard asked. “We don’t really know them. How can you be sure of them?”
“I can’t,” Jack admitted. “I know that they haven’t let me down yet, and even the lies have a truth in them, if I listen close enough. It’s a game for them. Teaching me how to listen. I do trust Jonathan, though; if something starts to happen, I trust that he will get a message to me. I trust Teal’c and Bre’tac to call me. I trust Malek, as strange as that sounds. The Asgard trust the Anunnaki, and I trust the Asgard.”
Maynard was silent for a moment. “I know he isn’t really your son, Jack. Vidrine gave me the report. It has since been accidentally destroyed.”
Jack pursed his lips for a moment and then gave Maynard a lazy salute before handing him the cane and walking to his partners. He dipped Daniel over the hood of a car and kissed the breath from him.
“Hey,” Sam poked them. “Church. Mind your manners, boys.”
“Yes, about that,” Maynard said. He took an uneasy step. “One of my kids…..”
“Just go with the flow, Francis,” Jack told him. “Love is a good thing. Keep telling yourself that. Paul!” He motioned to Davis who had been waiting. “Is Alvin still around?”
“Yes, sir, at Andrews where it was left,” Paul told him.
“Good. Can you get home another way?”
Sam and Daniel rolled their eyes and leaned against the car, hands covering their eyes.
“Yes, sir,” Paul said blandly.
“Who is Alvin?” Maynard asked. He noticed his wife waiting and he nodded. She slowly approached.
“My al kesh,” Jack told him. He whistled to a passing MP jeep and it stopped. “Francis, if you will excuse us? It’s been about a week and I’m going into withdrawals.”
There was silence in the jeep for a moment after Jack gave the driver their destination.
“Hold out your hand,” Daniel told him. Jack looked at him. “Hold out your hand.”
Jack held his hand out. Daniel turned it over and smacked two fingers across the top of Jack’s wrist. “Bad boy.”
Jack chuckled and tossed an arm across the back of the seat. He winced and rubbed at his chest.
“Are you really alright?” Sam asked.
“Yes, I am,” Jack nodded. “I’m a little winded, but the wound itself has healed. Sometimes the new skin stretches and that’s what stings a little.”
Their driver took them directly to the al kesh, putting them at the door.
“Thank you, lieutenant,” Jack said.
“You’re welcome, sir,” the driver said, standing tall next to the driver’s door. “Ma’am?” Sam stopped and turned to him. “Rumor has it you are the new CO in Nevada?”
“Yes, I am, lieutenant,” she confirmed.
“Congratulations, ma’am. I’ve put in for a transfer to that base, ma’am. I have one of those ‘talents.’ I’m hoping it can be of use.”
All three paused and looked at the enterprising guard.
“Oh? Which talent is that, lieutenant?” she asked, and looked closely at his uniform. “Lt. Fox?”
Fox’s partner tried to disappear and keep any mistakes from latching onto himself.
“I can smell minerals, ma’am,” Fox told her.
“Excuse me?” Sam tilted her head.
“I smell minerals,” Fox repeated. “I don’t know how, but I’ve always been able to sense mineral deposits. Different kinds of minerals. Like a dousing rod in my head. I even found underground water for my family’s farm. I’m from Altus, Oklahoma, ma’am; water is a hard commodity to find out there.”
“Geronimo country,” Daniel commented as he looked over the man’s dusky features. “You’re Apache.”
“Yes, sir,” Fox proudly said.
Sam looked at the men. She took her new bracelet off and held it out.
“What is this?” she asked. Fox took it from her and smelled it. Confusion began to cross his face and he held it close again.
“Almost….. no. I’ve never….. It almost resonates as gold but there is something different about it.” He handed it back to her, embarrassment on his face. “I’m sorry for wasting your time, ma’am. You stumped me with this one. I’ve never sensed this one before, and I thought I’ve smelled all of them. The gold is almost gold, the diamonds are almost diamonds. Almost a cross between diamond and ruby, if gems could cross-breed. Neither is quite, though.”
“What’s your first name, lieutenant?” she asked. Fox felt a report coming.
“Arnold, ma’am.”
“Arnold?” Jack questioned. Fox gave a self-conscious nod.
“Yes, sir.”
Jack took his cell phone out and dialed. “Colonel, there is a transfer request in the system for a Lieutenant Arnold Fox. Process it a-sap and get it over to Sam’s office. And have his security level changed right away. HomeSec Level 4.”
“Don’t worry, lieutenant,” Sam told the surprised man. “Your sniffer isn’t off. If you have a wife and family, tell them to start packing. Welcome aboard.”
“Uh, fiancé, ma’am,” the guard said, not believing what was happening. “Thank you, ma’am. Sir.”
Fox’s partner stared at him in disbelief.
“You snooze, you lose,” Fox told him.
They had barely gotten the door closed when Jack pushed Daniel up against a wall. Sam smiled and shook her head as she went to get the al kesh into the air.
“Sam, hover in orbit for a while,” Jack called to her. “Over….mmmm…… Niagara Falls.”
“Jack, how romantic of you,” Daniel said as his pants were abruptly dropped. He gasped as Jack buried his face in the thick hair and then tripped over the slacks that were around his ankles. Clothing went flying across the bridge of the al kesh.
“I thought this was my birthday,” Sam said, removing a sock from the consol. The men paused and looked up. Sam smiled. “Have fun,” she told them.
Daniel was pushed up onto the ledge under the main screen and flayed about for something to hold onto as Jack buried his face between his legs, sucking hard like a hungry calf. Jack lapped greedily at the musk and salt, not caring about the hairs that tickled his nose or found their way into his mouth. The men fell to the floor and quickly repositioned themselves at opposite ends of each other. Daniel locked his legs around Jack’s neck, keeping him in place as he buried his face between Jack’s cheeks. Jack gripped Daniel’s thighs tight, shaking slightly at the sensation of being eaten alive.
“Daniel!” Jack yelled. “Do it do it do it……”
Daniel released himself and turned Jack onto his stomach. Without taking the time to fetch the supplies Jack kept stashed on the ship, Daniel pulled Jack’s hips up and rammed home. Jack took a deep breath and screeched, pounding the floor in pain. The itch was scratched, though, and Daniel slowed, his wide, strong hands keeping Jack spread open for him. He dipped as he pushed in and Jack groaned, clutching at the floor.
“Who’s ass is this?” Daniel teased into his ear, flicking a tongue at the lobe.
“Mine,” Jack snarled. “Fill it.”
Daniel bit down on Jack’s neck and held on tight as Jack shuddered and moaned in orgasm.
When breathing began to return to normal, the men chuckled weakly and turned over. Jack smiled up at Daniel, touching his face. Daniel touched and lightly kissed his way down Jack’s torso, licking at his pelvic bone and the sticky whiteness that was spread across his abdomen. They looked up, hearing another moan. They couldn’t see the hand behind the consol, but Sam was obviously enjoying herself at their expense.
“God, I love it when you guys do that,” she moaned.