Unbalanced: Growing Up

Unbalanced: Growing Up

by Airam

Summary: A sequel to Unbalanced: Epilogue. Jack and Sam's daughter is grown up and about to join the SGC.
Category: Humor
Season: future Season
Pairing: other pairing
Rating: GEN
Warnings: none
Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author(s).
Archived on: 2005-02-04

Unbalanced: Growing Up

A/N: So this is a sequel to my story Unbalanced, taking place about 21 years later. After I wrote the epilogue to that story, this story idea kept popping into my head until I finally started to type something up. You don't necessarily have to read Unbalanced to get this story, but I recommend it because there are a few references to the end of that story and it is a good story (at least so I'm told by my reviewers!)

For those of you who choose not to read Unbalanced, Sam and Jack are married were about 22 years ago and they had a daughter named Stella.

Spoilers: Unbalanced had spoilers through the end of season seven (except Janet didn't die in my world!). I don't think there are that many references or spoilers from later seasons in this story, but there are a few from season five.

And now, on with the story...

The group of ten cadets stood waiting outside the administration building for their escort to show up. It was a cold snowy March morning in Colorado Springs. The cadets tried not to grumble, but it was hard not to when it was six in the morning on a Saturday morning. As seniors, they had earned the right to sleep in at least until 8 on the weekends, yet there they were. There was one cadet who was jumping up and down with joy, she couldn't wait for this weekend to get underway.

Five minutes later two black suburbans pulled up in front of the group of cadets. When they saw an officer step out of the first suburban, they all snapped to attention. "At ease cadets," the Colonel told them as she stood in front of them and looked them all over. When she saw the familiar face she tried to hide her smile.

"Cadets, you're all here because the Air Force believes you are the strongest cadets coming out of this year's class suited for where I work. The nature of our work is highly classified, physically and intellectually demanding, and will blow your minds away. If any of you feel you are not up to it, then go back to your rooms and crawl back into bed." She looked out over all of them and none of them made a move. "For the next two days you will be introduced to the SGC and our mission. When you graduate you will become a member of the most important team on the planet. If you feel you can't hack it, don't bother coming with us." Everyone continued to stare at her, they didn't know where they were going, but the Air Force had handpicked them for this secret base.

The Colonel walked in front of the cadets and stopped in front of the female cadet she had recognized earlier. "What about you, Cadet? Are you ready to join the SGC?" she asked her sternly.

She tried to hold back her smile, "Yes ma'am. I've been waiting for this day for a few years, ma'am."

"Good. That's the kind of enthusiasm I want to see," she told her with a sparkle in her eye. She then looked at the other cadets. "You five are with me, let's get out of here," she told them as she dismissed them between the two vehicles. As they were filing out, she walked next to the female cadet, "You haven't told them anything have you, Stella?"

Stella smiled and shook her head, "And ruin the surprise of seeing their faces when they see `it' in action? No ma'am!"

The other cadets who would be riding with the Colonel and Stella noticed the familiarity between the two women and noted that Stella seemed to know where they were going. As they climbed into the middle row of seats one cadet quietly asked her, "You know what's going on?"

Stella turned and smiled at Cadet Kyle Young, "You betcha!"

"How?" he asked his girlfriend of two months.

"You sound just like your dad!" the Colonel called back.

"That's what mom keeps telling me!"

All the cadets by then were thoroughly confused, especially at watching Stella's familiarity with the Colonel. "By the way, congratulations!"

"Your mom told you?" she asked as she turned to look back at Stella.

"She emailed me last night right before she had to go... on that `fact-finding' mission," she added when the Colonel sent her a glare before she revealed too much.

"Yeah, she told me just before she left. I can't believe I'm going to be in charge of the SGC!"

"Oh come on! Mom's been waiting for you to be eligible for your next promotion for years. That's why she hasn't retired yet."

The Colonel in the front seat laughed, "Yeah she told me that!" She paused, "You remind me so much of myself when I was at the academy."

Stella balked, "That's funny, cause mom and dad told me that you almost didn't graduate from the Academy!"

Colonel Jennifer Hailey sent a stern glare at Stella who happily smiled back, "I can't believe they told you! ... Lucky for me, your mom saw something in me!" she told her as her face broke out into a smile.

"She always did have a knack for seeing talent..."

Jen laughed as she recalled the running joke among the close friends, "Yes, and what she saw in your dad is still a mystery to us all!"

"That's what he says!" she quiped.

As Stella and Jen had been happily catching up, the other four cadets in the suburban all traded unsure looks with each other. Finally Kyle, being the highest ranking cadet, decided to broach the topic they were all dying to learn about. "Excuse me, ma'am, but how do you know Cadet O'Neill?"

Jen and Stella shared a quick look and decided that Jen should tell their history. "I've known Stella since she was a baby. I've been working with her parents for over twenty-five years now. Served under her mom for the past ten years. Actually, you've probably all heard of Stella's mom at the Academy, I know I had back when I was at the Academy!"

Kyle turned to Stella, "I've never heard of a famous O'Neill at the academy."

Stella couldn't help herself, "A famous O'Neill at the Academy? Can you imagine what it would have been for?!"

Jen Hailey couldn't help but break into laughter as well, "Yeah, I don't think they have any awards for sarcasm and wit! No, Stella's mom is General Carter-O'Neill."

Kyle who was the closest to Stella was shocked, "Your mom is Samantha Carter! THE Samantha Carter!" Stella just shrugged her shoulders. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Because I didn't want to be compared against her..."

Jen nodded, "I had a hard enough time being compared to her and I wasn't even related to her! She's a tough act to follow!"

"Yes she is ma'am!"

-----

"Do you still remember where the commissary is?" Hailey asked Stella when they were all in the elevators.

"Yes ma'am."

"Why don't you take them down there and get some breakfast... I'm going to go get Daniel."

Stella turned to face her friend, "He's here?"

"Yeah, he just got in last night. He's going to be doing the historical briefing... if I can wake him up!"

The elevator stopped and Colonel Hailey moved to get out, as the doors were closing Stella called out, "Make sure you use his coffee blend!"

When the elevator doors shut, all the cadets looked at Stella silently for a few seconds before the barrage of questions began, "Where are we?... What's going on down here?... How do you know what's going on down here?... You've been here before?..."

"Calm down guys! Yeah I've been here before, I've known about this place since I was a kid. My dad was the base XO before he retired, and my mom took over eight years ago. My brother and I grew up in this place."

"What do they do here?"

She tilted her head back as she led them off the elevator to go to the commissary, "Sorry guys, I've been sworn to secrecy!"

Twenty minutes later the group of ten cadets were finishing up their breakfasts at a large table. The other cadets were continually amazed by the amount of base personnel who kept coming up to Stella and greeting her.

Jennifer and Daniel were just then making it to the commissary. Daniel was still in the process of waking up when he was walking up to the table of cadets. He quickly noticed the head of blond hair in front of him. His eyes went wide though when he saw that Stella's hands were playing with the hands of the man sitting next to her below the table. He paused and watched the affectionate touches for a few seconds before he walked up behind her and placed both his hands on her shoulders, "What are you doing?"

As soon as she heard his voice she quickly withdrew her hands from Kyle's and turned to look at the man who was standing and looking down at her, "Uncle Danny!" She swallowed the lump in her throat as she saw that he was now staring at the man she was sitting next to.

"Who is he?" he demanded of her.

Stella got up and faced her `uncle' as she began to lead him away from the other cadets, "Uncle Danny calm down!"

"Calm down! You were holding hands with that guy!" he accused her as his arms flailed beyond Stella and pointed at the man next to the empty seat.

"Yes we were!" she adamantly told him. "We're dating and there's nothing wrong with holding hands!"

"Dating?!" he stammered out as he stared at her in wide-eyed shock. His duty as godfather to Stella kicked in as he spoke in angered tones, "What's his name?"

"Kyle," she calmly told him trying to keep her own emotions in check.

"Who the hell does he think he is dating you?"

"Excuse me?" she asked him shocked by his question. "I am not going to let you or anyone else ruin my relationship with Kyle!" she told him as she turned on her heels and walked back to the table where her fellow classmates all stared at them silently. Daniel watched her retreating form before he left the commissary to make a phone call. After all, he did have a duty to his best friends, he had to protect his goddaughter!

As Stella rejoined the others at the table Kyle met her and whispered into her ear, "Is everything all right?"

Hailey walked up to the pair and spoke quietly, "Do your folks know about the two of you?" When Stella didn't look up Hailey's shoulders fell, "This is going to be ugly! Why didn't you tell them Stella?"

Stella looked up at her friend, "Come on Jen, you know what happened with my last boyfriend!"

She did remember Stella's last boyfriend, who had the unfortunate luck of being introduced to the extended Carter-O'Neill family, specifically the men, all at once. The boy had left not knowing what had hit him, granted he hadn't been right for her after all, it had still embarrassed Stella.

"Oh yeah..." she commented as she looked between Stella and Kyle who was unsure of what he had gotten himself into. With an un-envious look she spoke to Kyle, "Cadet..." She shook her head, not knowing what to say to the man, she didn't know if he would survive the day. She finally settled on pity, "I'm sorry..." She then turned to Stella, "I'll see what I can do to calm down your parents..."

"Thanks Jen, I really appreciate it! I was going to tell them last weekend, but I wasn't able to make it home..."

"I understand, but we better get going, we need to start the briefing soon..."

Five minutes later the cadets were all in the SGC conference room learning about the SGC's mission. To say that they were all shocked was an understatement. They all raptly paid attention to Colonel Hailey's presentation on the SGC, except for Stella. The secrets of the SGC were old hat for her and so she only heard a few words from the Colonel's mouth. Instead her attention was directed at the door, she was just waiting for her father and her uncle Danny to come charging through the door.

Twenty minutes later the klaxons of the base went off, "Off world gate activation!" Hailey rushed down to the control room as the cadets all stood at the window and watched the Stargate in action. Before she'd left, Hailey had told her to wait up there, and if it was her mom coming through, then she would tell her that she wanted to speak to her.

A few minutes later Sam and Jennifer entered the conference room. Sam briefly greeted the new cadets before signaling her daughter to follow her into her office. In the privacy of her office mother and daughter shared a long hug, they hadn't seen each other in over three months, since the start of the semester.

"How've you been sweetie?"

"Good, things are going really well for me... But we might have a problem..."

Sam raised an eyebrow, "We do?" she skeptically asked her daughter.

"I need you to hear me out before you say anything," she told her mom. When her mother consented, Stella began her story. "I've been seeing someone for the past couple of months. It was pretty casual in the beginning, and then a couple of weeks ago we decided to see each other exclusively. That's why I was anxious to see you and dad last weekend, I wanted to tell you about Kyle, but then Kelly's accident prevented me from coming home... Before you start, I didn't tell you or dad I was dating Kyle because I didn't know if we had a serious relationship going. And I wasn't going to scare him off before we decided where we were by introducing him to dad... You know how he is! You remember what happened to my last boyfriend that I brought home!"

"I know honey! It's okay, I'm sorry to say this, but I knew this would happen to you from the day you were born!" she told her daughter with a sympathetic smile.

"There's a problem..." she hesitatingly spoke.

"He hasn't hurt you has he?" a concerned Sam asked.

"No, Kyle is wonderful. He would never hurt me and I think you'll like him. But he's not the problem... Kyle's last name is Young."

Sam remembered the files of all the cadets who were visiting that day, "He's here?"

Stella nodded her head, "Yeah, and uncle Danny saw us holding hands in the commissary already, he was pretty upset. I have a bad feeling that he called dad!" she told her mom.

Sam was really concerned now, "You're right, this isn't good... I better go have a chat with the Cadet before your dad gets here then."

Sam and Stella walked out of the office and into the briefing room. They got there just in time too. "Cadet Young, I'd like to see you in my office!" Sam rushed out when she could hear her husband's angered voice. "Now!" she rushed the man toward her office as Jack stormed into the briefing room.

"Where is he?" Jack bellowed as he looked at the young faces around the table as Stella tried to divert his attentions as she ran up to him.

"Dad, calm down!"

"Calm? I'm perfectly calm! I just want to meet your friends and play with them," he told her with an evil look in his eye. Behind his daughter he saw his wife leading a cadet into her office. "Is that him?" he asked as he walked around his daughter.

Sam looked over her shoulder and saw Jack coming up to them, she quickly pushed Kyle into her office and told him to wait there. She stood in her doorway though and summoned a nearby SF, "Calm down Jack."

"I just want to talk him!" he wildly told her as he tried to force his way into her office.

But she wasn't going to let her husband crucify another one of her daughter's boyfriends. "Jack, you are not going to talk to anyone in the mood you are in. Right now I need to speak with Cadet Young concerning his future... alone."

She glared at her husband, she really wanted things to work out for her daughter and she wasn't going to let her husband get in the way of that. She whispered, "Jack, you are not going to do anything that is going to hurt our daughter. And that includes hurting her feelings! Now if you'll excuse me," she told him as she turned on her heels and headed into her office and shut the door.

Jack momentarily stared at the closed door in shock. He was absolutely furious. He then turned and stormed back into the conference room, "Hailey, do you mind if I borrow my daughter?" he asked her through clenched teeth.

Jennifer looked between the retired Colonel she deeply respected and Stella, the girl she saw as a niece and friend. She decided to not piss anyone off, "If she wants to."

Stella nodded her head as she grabbed a hold of the arms of her father and Daniel and led them out of the conference room. They were barely outside the conference room before Jack started with his questions, "Your mom knows about that flyboy?"

"Dad, I'm not going to talk to you until you and uncle Danny calm down. And mom just found out about him."

Back in Sam's office Sam closed the door and leaned against it as she closed her eyes, "Why do they have to be such men?" she quietly asked herself. When she opened her eyes she saw the young handsome cadet standing nervously before her. "Cadet..."

"Ma'am."

Sam took a deep breath before she walked up to him and extended her hand. "I'm Samantha Carter-O'Neill, CO of the SGC. I'd like to congratulate you for being selected to join us," she welcomed him with a warm smile that Kyle recognized was very similar to the ones he got from Stella.

"Thank you ma'am. It's an honor to have the opportunity to work here and serve under you ma'am."

Sam sat down and motioned for him to follow suit across from her, "Actually you won't... I'm retiring in a month when Colonel Hailey will be promoted and become the new base commander... Anyways, I'd like to apologize for the welcome you've received," she sincerely told him with a lopsided grin.

"That's allright ma'am, I understand. I myself am very protective of my younger sisters and the boys they date."

"I'm sure you do, but you haven't met Jack, Daniel or Teal'c!" she chuckled. "I love them to death, but I swear they are going to be the death of me one of these days... You see, we all served together on the same team in the early days of the SGC, we became a very tight family. When Jack and I had Stella, Daniel and Teal'c became her uncles and treated her like she was their own daughter. They are all so protective of her... And I'm sorry to say that she was `doomed' the day she was born when my father warned Jack of what it would be like when Stella started dating. Needless to say, they all got some scary images in their minds, and so not many meet their standards of whom Stella should date. I'm sorry," she sympathetically told him.

Kyle nodded his head, "Yes ma'am. She warned me about them. That's why she really wanted to come home last weekend. Since she couldn't tell you in person then, she decided to wait `til after this weekend to tell you all, she didn't want to ruin my experience here at the base, ma'am... I guess that idea's out the window now," he lightheartedly told her.

Sam smiled at the young man, she was getting a good feeling for the man. "Yeah... I think you better hide out in here for a bit while Stella talks to her dad... So tell me about yourself?"

"Are you in charge of reconnaissance, ma'am?"

Sam smiled as she leaned back in her chair, `Yeah, I'm going to like this one...' "Let's put it this way cadet, having me as an ally won't hurt. Lucky for you, I want my daughter to be happy and I have an open mind."

"I'll count my blessings ma'am... Well, what would you like to know about me ma'am?"

Forty minutes later Sam and Kyle emerged from her office and rejoined Hailey and the cadets in the conference room. Sam finally took the time to properly introduce herself to the other cadets and welcome them to the base. An hour later Stella, Jack and Daniel hadn't returned yet, Sam hoped that was a good sign. They were taking a break when the missing trio walked into the conference room. Stella sent a timid smile to her mother and boyfriend as she followed her father in.

Jack and Daniel nodded at the two Air Force officers in the room before they approached Kyle. "I'm Stella's father, Colonel O'Neill. This is Dr. Jackson, my best friend and one of Stella's godfather's." Jack didn't hide his disdain or his attempts at intimidation.

Kyle stood up even straighter, "Cadet Kyle Young, sir. A pleasure to meet you both, Stella's told me a lot about you."

"Isn't that nice of her to tell you about us and not tell us about you?" Jack grimaced.

"It is quite unfortunate that she couldn't come up last weekend, she was really looking forward to it, sir."

"So she says," Jack replied as he looked back at his daughter. He looked at his best friend as an evil thought entered his mind, surely Stella hadn't told her about her other godfather! When he looked back at Kyle, he could hardly contain his evil grin.

Sam noticed it and wondered what he was up to. "Jack?" she warily called out.

He ignored her as he looked away from the attention of his ire and at the other cadets in the room. "I'm sorry everyone. I'm Colonel Jack O'Neill, Retired." He watched with amusement as all the eager young faces looked at him and nodded at him.

"Jack?" Sam reiterated her request.

He finally looked back at her. "Yes dear?" he sweetly asked her.

"Can I see you in my office?"

"Nah, you're busy! How about I take these recruits off your hands and take them on a tour of the base?"

"Jack!" she called as he tried to start ushering them out of the room.

He spun around with an amused and disappointed look, "For crying out loud, I just want-"

"To help?" she asked him, challenging him to lie to her.

Jack knew better than to try that, she knew him too well.

"In my office, now!" she ordered her husband. "You too Daniel!"

Daniel looked up with a startled look, "What'd I do?"

Sam just glared at them both until they both caved and headed for her office. When she saw that they were safely hidden away in her office, she turned back to her 2IC. "Jen, do you mind showing them around and getting them kitted up for their trip through to the alpha site?"

"Not at all, ma'am. I'll take care of these fine young recruits!"

"Thanks," she replied before smiling at her daughter and hoping to reassure her that she could further calm the fire of her husband and dear friend.

When she entered her office she found them both standing and trying to shoot daggers at the young cadet with their eyes. She shook her head as she closed the door behind her. "Will the two of you grow up?"

They both stared at her, "What?"

"You're acting like bullies!"

"No we're not," Jack tried to assure her.

"Yes you are! Jack, when you got here you were ready to tear his head off! And you," she turned to Daniel, "You aren't helping things either!"

"Hey, I take my role as godfather very seriously!" he defended.

"And I don't take my role as mother seriously?" she challenged them. She closed her eyes and tried to calm down, "Look guys, I know you mean well and all, but you can't just attack and scare off every man that Stella's interested in without getting to know him first."

"Why can't we?" Jack asked.

Sam looked down at her desk as she gathered her argument for this discussion that they had many times. Before she looked up at her husband she muttered under breath, "I'm going to kill my father, alliance or no alliance!" She rubbed her temples as she spoke, "You guys haven't even gotten to know him!"

"But you have!" Jack reminded her.

"Only a few hours ago! Look, Jack, Daniel, he seems like a really nice young man..."

"He's in the Air Force!" Jack reminded her. He remembered what young hot shot Air Force cadets were like, they were all kids who wanted to fly fighter jets.

"So were you, and look how we turned out."

Jack couldn't help but smile, "Yes, well, you couldn't resist my charm and witty sense of humor! And I wasn't some flyboy-fighter-pilot-adrenaline-junkie like Kyle!" he added before either of them could interrupt.

"See you don't know anything about him! He doesn't want to be a fighter pilot, he wants to be a doctor."

"Great! Another science geek!"

Daniel now took offense, "Hey, if you don't like `science geeks' then why have you surrounded yourself with them?"

Jack turned to his best friend, "Shut up Daniel!" who smirked back at him.

"He's not a science geek Jack... Actually he reminds me of you..."

Jack sat up straight in his seat, "What!?!?"

Sam's eyes went wide as she realized what Jack was thinking, "Shit... Jack, he-"

"Like hell am I going to let Stella date anyone like me!" he told her as he motioned to move.

Sam stood up and reached over her desk to grab his arm. "Hold it right there Jonathan O'Neill! First of all, I married you and I have been happily married for twenty-two years. There is nothing wrong with a man like you! Second of all, don't you think she might be drawn to him because he reminds her so much of her father who has always been there for her and protected her? And thirdly, he also reminds me of Daniel. He seems to have the best qualities from both of you."

Jack looked at Daniel and smiled, "What are you talking about? Daniel doesn't have any good qualities!"

"Hey! I resent that! You should be grateful that he reminds Sam of me, that's probably why she's giving him a chance!"

"Hah!" Jack replied back. "You wish! You know you always wanted to be like me!"

Daniel laughed, "Hah! Are you kidding me! You getting a few loose screws in that head of yours old man?"

Sam watched with amusement at these two important men in her life as they continued to trade barbs back and forth. `Some things never change...' She let them play their little game a little longer in the hopes of building up their good moods. After a minute of letting them have their fun, she interrupted them, "Look guys, can you please just give him the benefit of the doubt for now until you get to know him?"

Jack and Daniel shared a look. When Jack looked back at Sam he had a gleam in his eye, "Okay. How about Danny and I accompany the recruits to the Alpha Site to get to know him better?"

"No. No way Jack! Stella will freak out!"

Jack shrugged his shoulders, "Hey, you said we needed to get to know the guy!"

"Well, yes... But not on another planet!"

"Sam..." he called out.

Sam clenched her eyes shut, as she muttered something under her breath again, "Stella's going to hate me..." When she opened them she stared at the men in front of him, "You guys can go, if, and I do mean IF, you promise not to terrorize that man!"

"We won't lay a finger on him! We just want to get to know the guy!" Jack assured her.

She looked between the men and studied them. "Okay... Fine, but you promised!" she warned them. "Remember, the Air Force has picked these cadets because they are the best... I don't want you to mess with that!"

Jack and Daniel jumped up out of their chairs, "Yes! Come on Danny, let's go get packed!"

As she watched them leave her office and talk to each other she shook her head in disbelief at her own acquiescence to his request, "God, please don't let me regret this!"

A couple hours later, Sam stood in the control room with her husband as Hailey, Daniel, Stella and the rest of the recruits assembled in the Gate room. "Dial up the Alpha Site, Sergeant." She then turned to her husband, "Jack, remember, you promised me that you wouldn't terrorize that young man."

"Why would you ever think that I would do such a thing?"

She glared at him. "Jack, would you at least give him a chance! J.D. approves of him, he even introduced them, he can't be all that bad!"

Jack's eyes went wide, "J.D. knew about Kyle and he didn't tell us? I am so going to have some serious words with your son when he comes home next time!"

Sam shook her head in mild frustration, "Jack, you will do no such thing to our son. And you will not terrorize our daughter's boyfriend! Am I understood?"

"Hey, I'm just looking out for my little girl!"

"Jack!" she threatened as the last chevron locked into position as the event horizon formed.

"What? ... Oh, fine I promise!"

"And Daniel!"

"Yeah, yeah!" he told her as he gave her a quick kiss and headed down to the Gate room.

Once they were all gathered before the Stargate, most of the cadets were staring at it open mouthed, Sam gave them the go ahead for their overnight mission to the Alpha base. Jack and Daniel were the last ones to start up the ramp. She keyed the intercom before they stepped through, "Jack, Daniel. No terrorizing him!"

Jack turned back to his wife and smiled sweetly at her, "I promise we won't do anything to him!" he told her as he motioned between himself and Daniel. Before he stepped through the Stargate, he flashed her one last look.

Sam saw the sneaky look on his face, the one where he thought he would outsmart and pull something over on his wife. As the wormhole disengaged she continued to stare at the space that her husband recently occupied. She muttered to herself as she headed for her office, "Why do I have a bad feeling about this..?" She was halfway to her office when it dawned on her and she rushed back to the control room. "Where's Teal'c?"

The startled Sergeant monitoring the Gate looked up at his CO. "Ma'am?"

"Where's Teal'c at currently?"

"Uh," he stumbled as he called up the files on his computer. "Uh... he's been visiting with his son Rya'c for the past week... And, he's..." his voice trailed off as he silently continued to read Teal'c's next mission.

"What is it Sergeant?"

He looked up at Sam and hated to have to be the one to tell her the news that she already suspected, "Uh, he and Rya'c are going to the Alpha Site, ma'am. They both wanted to see Stella..."

Sam looked up and glared once again at the spot where her husband had been standing not two minutes ago. "Damnit Jack! This is going to be so much worse for Kyle!" Part of her wanted to dial up the Alpha Site and warn her husband not to sic Teal'c and Rya'c on the young cadet. The other part of her wanted to see how he would hold up. She had a good feeling about the young man and felt that he could handle his own against the men in Stella's family.

Then again, Kyle was walking into an ambush set up by the best of them, and two aliens! Two very strong and intimidating, at least to the casual observer, aliens! "Dial up the Alpha Site!" she ordered Sergeant Williams.

When it finally connected, she had the Sergeant open a video channel with the Alpha Site, "This is General Carter-O'Neill, I need to speak with Jack O'Neill right away!"

The face of the airman manning the controls was replaced by a familiar face. "Sam, is everything all right?" he asked his old friend with concern.

"I hope so! Is Jack around?"

"He just left to take the cadets to the training facility, is there a problem Sam?" General Paul Davis, CO at the Alpha site asked.

"Can you send someone for him?"

"Yeah, no problem." There was a pause as he issued a command to an airman. "What's going on Sam?"

"I have a feeling that Jack is going to terrorize one of those cadets through Teal'c and Rya'c."

"What? Why?"

Sam closed her eyes as she told him the truth, "Stella is dating one of the cadets there now."

Paul's eyes went wide as he quietly mumbled an, "Oh..."

"Yeah! Paul do me a favor and make sure that they're on their best behavior!"

Paul raised an eyebrow, "You want me to stop Teal'c from trying to `protect' his goddaughter?"

Sam couldn't help but let a small smile show on her face. He was right, it was often next to impossible to ever stop Teal'c from pursuing a noble course of action, and making sure that men stayed away from Stella was one of them in his mind. "Yeah... Right... Okay, I'll talk to Jack... Can you talk to Daniel though?"

"And say what to him?"

"That if he makes Stella unhappy or allows anyone else to make her unhappy, that I'm going to have a nice long chat with Janet who will be very disappointed in him if he makes her goddaughter unhappy!"

Paul couldn't help but smile at the idea, they both knew how much Daniel was scared to make his wife upset. "Okay, I'll do that. What's the cadet's name?"

"Kyle Young."

"Okay, I'll keep an eye out for him and make sure he doesn't end up in the infirmary! Okay, Jack's here. I'm going to go... do that favor for you Sam!" he smiled as he slid out of the camera's view frame to head to the training facility.

Jack's face came into view on the video screen at the SGC, "Jack you lied to me!"

"I did no such thing!" he innocently stated.

"You said you weren't going to terrorize him!"

"And I won-"

"But you're going to make sure that Teal'c and Rya'c do!" she told him.

Jack shrugged his shoulders with a small smile across his face, "Well..."

Sam shook her head at her husband, he could be so smug sometimes and she just wanted to wipe that lop-sided smirk off his face. Unfortunately she couldn't because he was a few hundred light years away. When she spoke again, she was calm, "Jack, would you please give the man a chance?"

"Why?"

"Because I trust Stella..."

"Come on you remember her last boyfriend!"

"Jack, she was 17!" Sam closed her eyes and gathered her emotions and calmed down. "Jack, she's grown up a lot since then... And Kyle seems like a nice man."

"You hardly know him!" he reminded her.

"I know... But Jack, please," she pleaded with him, "do this for me?"

"I am. I'm making sure that our little girl doesn't get her heart broken," he told her matter of factly.

Sam closed her eyes as thoughts of killing her father reentered her mind. As the images floated across her mind, she got an idea. Maybe she did have one more card to play, "Jack..."

Jack squinted at her as he detected the mischievous tone in her voice, "Sam..."

"Jack, don't make me bring my father into this..."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means... he won't be happy to know that you are making his daughter and granddaughter unhappy."

Jack stared at her and tried to laugh it off, "Your dad loves me! And besides I'm just looking out for his granddaughter!" He tried to express his confidence in his voice, and for the most part he was doing a good job with it. "He'll probably thank me for this!"

Sam detected his false bravado as she stared straight into his eyes, "Not when I'm done with him! Never underestimate the power of Daddy's Little Girl!" she warned him.

Jack tried to laugh it off... But she was serious he noted. "Do you remember what he told you about hunting you down across the galaxy if you made me unhappy?"

Jack's eyes bulged out of his head, "You wouldn't dare!"

"Try me Jack!" she challenged.

"You wouldn't..." he continued to gauge her face. "... You would..." he finally accepted as he swallowed a lump in his throat.

Sam slowly and silently nodded her head.

"All right, fine... I promise not to let anyone hurt him!"

Sam's face softened as she smiled warmly at her husband. "Thank you Jack!"

Jack looked at his wife and melted under her smile as he had done many times in the past thirty years of knowing her. "Yeah, yeah... I'm still going to reserve the right to see if he's good enough for her!"

"Fine, but only within reason and you will not treat him any differently than any of the other cadets!"

"Fine..." Jack grumbled.

"Jack," she called out.

Jack looked up and saw her smile affectionately at him again, he couldn't stop himself from smiling back at her. "I love you Jack."

"I love you too, Sam... I'll see you tonight?"

Sam nodded her head, "Yeah, I'll be heading to the Alpha Site at around 1900 hours."

"Okay, I'll see you then," he told her.

"Yeah, bye," she told them before they both disengaged the video feeds.

----

General Paul Davis headed over to the training facility. He wasn't going to let anyone deliver this message to Daniel but himself, he couldn't wait to see his face. As he walked up, he noticed that Daniel and Teal'c were in silent conversation as they nodded over at the cadets. Paul had a feeling that they were talking about one cadet in particular. Before he arrived, Teal'c left Daniel's side and approached the cadets with a fierce sense of determination.

"Uh oh..." Paul muttered as he walked up to Daniel. Best to work through channels he figured. "Hey Daniel!"

"Hey Paul, what are you doing here?"

"Doing Sam a favor... She wanted me to pass along a message to you."

Daniel smiled at Paul, he knew what the message was going to be. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, "And what message might that be?"

"She said that if you make Stella unhappy or allow anyone else to make her unhappy," Paul paused and watched Daniel absently nod his head in mock understanding. Paul figured that that was about to stop in a few seconds as he continued, "that she'd tell Janet, who would be very disappointed in you for making her goddaughter unhappy." `Yep, that did it!'

Daniel's head stopped bobbing up and down as he stared at Paul with mild fear. "She said that?"

Paul bit back a smile and nodded his head.

"She wasn't kidding when she said that was she?"

Paul shook his head no.

"She would do it wouldn't she?"

Paul nodded his head again.

Daniel stared at him momentarily before he turned around and looked for Teal'c and took off at a sprint. Paul watched the archaeologist run off, `Not bad for a sixty-year-old archaeologist!'

When Daniel caught up with Teal'c, he was standing before Cadet Young. As he ran up he heard Teal'c speaking.

"Daniel Jackson has informed me that you are dating Stella O'Neill. Is that correct?"

Kyle stared back at the man and refused to be intimidated, Stella was worth fighting for. "Yes, sir."

"And what are your intentions with young Stella O'Neill?"

"Only honorable one's, sir."

"And yet you have proceeded to date her without seeking permission from her family. On Chulak, Colonel O'Neill would have every right to challenge you... to the death."

Kyle's eyes widened at learning the rights and rituals of Teal'c's home world. As he stared into the eyes of the imposing alien before him, he tried to come up with a response. "Sir, you are correct in that I have not sought permission from Miss O'Neill's parents. In my defense, I received the blessing of J.D. O'Neill; he introduced us, sir. And if we were on Chulak, I would willingly die at the hands of Colonel O'Neill because I would never mean to disgrace Miss O'Neill nor rob her of her father, sir," he calmly stated as an impressed Daniel watched on.

"Teal'c come on," Daniel said as he grabbed his friend's arm and tried to lead him away.

Teal'c bored into the young cadet's eyes that never backed down. As Daniel continued to pull Teal'c away, he offered one last piece of advice, "Cadet Young, if I learn that you have hurt Stella O'Neill in any way, then-"

"Teal'c!" Daniel yelled as he pulled him away before he could finish voicing his threat.

Teal'c threw one last look over his shoulder.

"I have no intention of ever doing that, sir," Kyle assured him. He watched the two godfathers walk away before joining the rest of the cadets who were checking their gear one last time before their first training exercise.

Stella walked over to him, "Kyle, I'm so sorry for all of this!"

Kyle offered her a small smile, "Don't be. I'd probably act the same way if you were my daughter or goddaughter..."

"You're not upset or anything?" she asked him.

"Over what?"

"You're not scared?"

Kyle smiled at her, "I'll admit, Teal'c can be a bit intimidating. But I don't ever plan on getting on his bad side..."

"Yeah, but they're probably going to make your two days here a living hell!"

Kyle shrugged his shoulders, "It's worth it for you... And besides, I'll consider it as supplemental training."

She looked at him quizzically.

"Hey, if I can hold my ground with your family and get them to accept me, or at the least, not want to kill me, then fighting the Gold should be easy, right?"

Stella smiled back him. "Goa'uld. Not Gold."

Kyle nodded his head, "Yeah, them too," he added lightly.

Stella nodded her head in amusement. "Thanks Kyle... And if my dad ever gives you a chance, the two of you will get along great."

Kyle's face lit up, "Really? Why's that?"

Stella shrugged her shoulders, "You both have the capacity to be serious and childish at the same time."

Kyle happily smiled back at her as he finished checking his own gear.

By the end of the day, the team of young cadets had been put through an arduous series of training exercises. Including each of them getting zatted once with a zat gun, Kyle was the first unsuspecting victim. Throughout the exercises, Jack was especially critical of Kyle's actions, who listened intently and worked on improving and learning from his critiques.

As they continued throughout the exercises, Stella's respect and admiration for Kyle grew. She saw him take it all in stride and never back down. He was a strong man, like her father.

At the end of the day, they were all granted an hour of free time. Kyle and Stella took off for a walk around the perimeter of the Alpha Base. They ended up heading up the mountain a bit to talk. They stopped on an outcropping just over the hangar entrance.

"So what do you think of the Stargate program?"

"It's amazing! I can't believe we're on another planet! I mean look at that, this planet has two moons!" he told her as he leaned back and pointed up at the two moons overhead.

She lied down next to him, "Yeah, it is pretty amazing... And there are so many places out there to explore..."

"That's the coolest part! If you think of the number of stars there are in this galaxy, and assume that there are thousands, if not millions, of solar systems like this one where there is sustainable life... I mean there could be like... Gazillions of planets to explore!"

"Gazillions?" Stella chuckled!

"Yeah... gazillions... somewhere between a billion and infinity!"

Stella shook her head in amusement, `yep, definitely like dad!'

"Hey kids!" a voice called out.

Kyle scrambled to his feet as Stella sat up and watched her parents approach. "Hey mom, dad."

Sam spoke first, "Hey Stella, Cadet. How was your day?"

"Good..." her daughter offered.

"And what about you Cadet?"

"Ma'am... It was... Awesome... I feel so honored to be selected for this assignment!"

Even though there wasn't that much light, Sam and Jack knew that the young cadet had a huge smile on his face. "It is pretty cool getting to travel to other planets, isn't it?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Silence settled on the group. After a few moments, Jack spoke up, "Cadet, can I have a word with you?"

"Dad!"

"Jack!"

"Yes, sir," he replied as he followed Jack's indicated direction.

"Kyle you don't have to," Stella told him as she shot a look at her father.

"Jack, what did I tell you earlier?"

"I just want to talk to the man and get to know him," Jack exclaimed.

"It's okay, I don't mind," Kyle reassured his girlfriend. He then turned to Jack, "Sir."

As the two men walked away, Sam and Stella shared a worried look with each other. "This isn't good is it?"

Sam watched the retreating figures before looking back at her daughter. "I don't know sweetie..."

"Do you think he has a chance?"

"Well Daniel and Teal'c didn't have anything unfavorable to say about him. They said he was a strong man... He didn't back down against Teal'c... And Daniel likes the fact that Kyle's minor is Philosophy..."

"And dad?" she asked worriedly.

"Your dad... hasn't formed his opinion yet... I guess we'll find out soon enough..."

"Great... I hate waiting! ... What do you think of him?"

Sam looked over at her daughter, "I'm inclined to like him... And as long as he makes you happy and respects you..."

"He does on both accounts... You know, he reminds me a lot of both dad and uncle Danny..."

Sam smiled at her daughter, "I thought the same thing..."

They sat in silence again waiting for the men to return. Stella spoke, "Mom?"

"Yes dear?"

"How did you get them not to make Kyle's time here hell?"

A huge smile appeared on her face. "Well... I told Daniel that I would tell Janet that he was making you unhappy and-"

"You didn't!" a shocked Stella asked her mom. "That's why he was sprinting over to Teal'c when he was talking to Kyle and practically dragged him away!" She laughed openly thinking of the fear that Daniel must have felt. "You're too good mom!"

"Well, when you've been friends and worked with someone for almost thirty years, you know how to make them do what you want!"

"Nice... And dad?"

"Do you remember the story that my dad likes to tell about how your father asked him for my hand in marriage? Well, I just reminded your father of my dad's threat to hunt him down if he made me unhappy..."

"Oh my god! You threatened to get a hold of grandpa!"

Sam nodded her head, "Yep, and luckily your father didn't call my bluff!"

Her eyes went wide! She then wrapped her arms around her mother, "Thanks mom!"

----

Jack and Kyle walked away from the two women in silence. Jack led them further up the mountain for ten minutes before he stopped and sat down on a few rock slabs.

Jack put Kyle through his first test. Jack just sat there in silence and looked down on the base. He sat there like that for ten minutes. The entire time he watched Kyle out of the corner of his eye. He was impressed at how cool Kyle was, he wasn't looking around worriedly or speaking for the sake of speaking. Rather Kyle sat there patiently waiting for Jack to say something. Kyle occupied himself as he calmly stared up at the night sky and marveled at the majestic beauty of looking at the night sky from a different planet.

"What are you thinking?"

"Honestly, sir?"

"I don't want to hear anything but the truth from you," Jack warned him.

"Yes, sir. Well, it might sound kind of silly... But, I was trying to decide if that group of stars up there looks like a dragon spewing fire from it's mouth or a dinosaur holding a bouquet of flowers," he replied as he pointed up at the stars.

Jack followed his arm, "Where?"

Kyle leaned over and pointed out the stars more carefully, "You see that row of stars, kind of looks like the back of an animal... And there's the legs... And the tail... And you see that cluster of stars in front of the `head'? ... I can't decide if that's a fireball or a bouquet of flowers..."

Jack stared at the `constellation' in question. As he was coming to his own decision of the star cluster himself he realized how funny it was... Trying to find shapes in the stars was something he would do. As he continued to look up, the corners of his mouth curled up in a small smile. He then seriously answered, "Definitely a fireball."

"I was leaning that way myself, sir." Kyle calmly replied as he continued to stare at his constellation.

Both men continued to look up at the stars in silence for another few minutes.

Kyle broke the silence this time, "Do you know if anyone here has charted the stars and come up with constellation names, sir?"

"Don't know... You come up with a name for your dragon?"

"Yes, sir. St. George."

"Wasn't that the knight who fought the dragon?"

Kyle looked over at the retired colonel next to him. "Yes sir. But it was the best story reference I could come up with concerning a dragon... So it was either St. George or Puff the Magic Dragon, sir."

Jack laughed at the alternate name as he looked over at Kyle. Once he stopped laughing he spoke again, "St. George it is."

Kyle smiled and nodded his head in agreement.

They sat in silence once again as they looked out over the planet. Jack's mind was having a very hard time. He wanted to dislike the man sitting next to him, but he was finding it hard to. The man had stood tall (`Except for when T zatted him!' he mused) during the day's exercises and his constant nit-picking. He listened to his criticisms and then incorporated what he'd learned into future scenarios - marks of a true leader. The man wasn't reckless. He did want to be a doctor though! But he couldn't hold that against him... `As long as he doesn't come near me with any needles!' And he also kept his cool as evidenced in their recent chat... And the guy wasn't serious all the time... `Kind of like me... Damnit Sam, why do you have to be right?'

"Sam tells me you want to be a doctor."

"Yes, sir."

"You're at the top of your class and could have your pick of any field, why be a doctor?"

"There's the obvious reason that I want to help people, but more than anything... The human body fascinates me, sir. We're this amazing machine that has so many little parts and processes that have to work in concert together for us not to trip over our own feet. I guess you could say I want to be the repair man you call when something is wrong with your body..."

Jack nodded his head as he listened, he'd never heard a reason like that before. "What field?"

"I like Emergency Medicine... I like the adrenaline of it and thinking fast on your feet when someone's life is in your hand... But I guess if I work here at the SGC, I'll probably look into internal medicine as well, sir."

Jack smiled as he heard Kyle's reason for liking emergency medicine-adrenaline. `I knew he was an adrenaline junkie!'

Another silence ensued between the two men. "Sam tells me that J.D. introduced you and Stella."

"That's correct, sir." Kyle thought about Jack's choice of words, both times he had broached a topic with him, it was about information he had obtained from Sam, not Stella. He began to wonder what Stella, Jack and Daniel had talked about that morning. "J.D. and I are on the hockey team together."

Jack looked over at the young cadet who scored another point in his book, "You play hockey?"

"As long as I can remember," Kyle revealed with a smile.

"What position do you play?"

"Center... I take it you're the one who taught J.D. how to play."

"Yep... Had to pass it on to one of my kids!"

"J.D.'s a good player. He's got good puck skills and he plays the ice well both ways... He just needs to work on seeing the whole rink... But he's working on it... I won't be surprised if he's named team captain his senior year..." Kyle told him seriously.

"You're not saying that just to get on my good side, are you?"

Kyle shook his head emphatically, "No sir! I meant what I said about your son's playing skills! And the other player's respect him and see his potential as well. I've spoken with the Coach about your son several times and the future of the team."

Jack's eyes went wide, "Wait a minute! You're the captain of the team! J.D.'s talked about you a lot!" As the pieces fell into place in his mind he recalled everything that his son had said about Kyle. That he was a good captain, treated all the players fairly, even the freshmen. Apparently, Kyle ran a tight ship among the team and didn't allow any hazing of the freshmen. His son really respected the man he was sitting next to... `So that's why J.D. introduced you to Stella...' he mused. But Jack wasn't going to share any of that information with this young man... Well, maybe just a little.

"J.D. has a lot of respect for you," he revealed somberly.

Kyle didn't respond, he was a humble man.

"So, who's your favorite team?"

"The Red Wings, sir."

"You got to be kidding me?"

Kyle shook his head, "Nope. I was born in Detroit."

"I thought you lived in Colorado?"

"I do. But I could never root for the Avs!"

Jack nodded his head happily, "At least we're in agreement on that!"

"I take it you're a Blackhawks fan like J.D."

"Yeah. Luckily he got that from me and didn't choose Sam's team."

"Who's that?"

Jack looked over at him out of the corner of his eye, "The Red Wings."

Kyle smiled widely, but didn't say anything to that as he looked back over the planet.

Jack continued to process what he'd learned of the man next to him. The more he spoke with him, the more he was inclined to like him. Sam's words rang in his mind again, `Maybe she's drawn to him because he's like you?' But she was right about something as well, Kyle did seem to have the best parts of both himself and Daniel, without the added baggage both men had carried. Maybe this man wasn't bad for his daughter?

"We should probably head back," Jack finally offered as he began to stand up. "Stella's probably thinking that I've thrown you off the mountain."

Kyle laughed, and not in a hesitant fearful laugh. Rather in a confident laugh to a funny suggestion. He was standing up as well and turned to head back down the mountain when Jack reached out for his arm.

"I'm going to tell you something that Sam's father told me..." Jack stared into the young man's eyes and with the utmost seriousness continued on, "If you ever hurt Stella and I find out about it, there won't be a place in this galaxy where you can hide from me and stop me from hunting you down and killing you. Am I making myself perfectly understood?"

"Yes sir... For the record, I don't plan on ever giving you a reason to."

Jack nodded his head before he started heading down the hill, "Good... Now shall we go sneak up on the O'Neill women?"

Kyle's face lit up, "Excellent idea, sir! What do you have in mind?"

Jack reached into his pockets and withdrew two small objects and held them out for Kyle to see.

"Excellent choice of ammunition, sir!"

Five minutes later Jack and Kyle were walking down the mountain to join Sam and Stella.

"Then there was this one time when she was about three years old. You should have heard her squeal!" Jack mentioned to Kyle who was laughing uncontrollably.

"What'd you do?"

Stella looked at her father and boyfriend confused, `Are they laughing?'

"Well being as young as stubborn as an O'Neill, she decided that she didn't want to wear clothes anymore and so-"

"DAD!" she yelled out begging him to stop from embarrassing her.

Jack looked at his daughter as if he was shocked to see her there. He then turned to Kyle, "No it wasn't quite like that either..." He sent a silent nod to Kyle, "It was more like this!"

And at the same time both men withdrew their weapons and began to fire the small water pistols at Sam and Stella who, being caught completely off guard, squealed. Both women raised their hands to their faces to protect them as they charged towards their men to attempt to disarm them.

Both men ran out of ammunition just as their victims were able to wrestle the guns from their hands. With both hands free they wrapped their arms around their respective targets and held onto them for dear life.

"I love you Sam!" Jack whispered in her ear. "And you're right, he's not so bad after all!"

Sam who was about to yell at her husband had the biggest smile on her face as she turned to her husband and whispered back, "Thank you Jack!"

Stella whispered to Kyle, "I take it things went okay?"

He planted a quick kiss on her cheek, "Yeah!" He then leaned even closer and whispered into her ear, "I hope I didn't hurt you just now."

She shook her head.

"Good, because I'm told on good authority that if I do hurt you, there isn't a place in this galaxy where I can hide!"

Stella's eyes went wide as she raised her voice, "DAD!"

Jack spun around as he released his wife, he recognized that voice. It sounded exactly like Sam's when he was in trouble. "What?" he asked innocently.

"Dad, you threatened him!"

He raised his hands innocently.

"Jack," Sam drawled out as she glared at her husband.

"I didn't say anything new," he defended. He was feeling very uncomfortable under their stares. He looked at Kyle, "Sell out!"

"Jack, don't you dare and try to turn this on Kyle!" Sam warned him.

Jack sighed as he finally spoke, "I may have used your father's words."

Sam's head fell. "Stella... Please remind me to kill my father the next time we see him," she asked her daughter as she rubbed her forehead.

Jack stood up to defend Jacob, "What? Why? It's a good piece of advice! Father's of a Carter are very protective of their babies! I'm sure if Kyle and Stella were to have kids - and this under NO circumstances gives you permission to marry my daughter and get her pregnant!" he sternly warned, "Kyle would say the same thing to any potential suitor to his little girl."

"DAD!"

Kyle's face reddened.

"Jack," Sam finally looked up at her husband. "Shut up!"

"But-"

Sam raised her hand to his mouth. "You are digging yourself a very deep hole with your daughter! If you don't stop now when you're only ten steps behind, she WILL leave you behind. And in case you haven't noticed, she's younger than both of us and can out run us!"

Jack's mouth gaped as he tried to find any set of appropriate words.

Watching him drag his foot out of his mouth, Sam smiled at the man she so desperately loved and couldn't live without. She placed her hands on his cheeks as she pulled him closer, "What am I going to do with you?"

Jack sent her a suggestive smile and raised an eyebrow, "Well, you know you are a VIP!"

"Ah! I'm not hearing this!" Stella cried out as she brought her hands up to her ears and buried her face in Kyle's chest. Trying to protect her from the images she was forming, he protectively wrapped his arms around her.

Once everyone had calmed their wild imaginations down the four of them continued back down the mountain.

"So Cadet, what else did my husband tell you?"

"Well ma'am, I know that you and I will be having some nice memories between April and June."

"Whatever!" Jack flippantly stated.

Sam looked around her daughter at Kyle, "Excuse me."

"When the Red Wings make a race for the Cup!"

The End

If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to Airam

You can't save them all - can you? pt2

You can't save them all - can you? pt2

by whisper99

Summary: A slow night at the SGC brings the team a mystery.
Category: Alternate Universe, Mystery
Episode Related: 701 Fallen
Season: Season 7
Pairing: none
Rating: 13+
Warnings: minor language
Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author(s).
Archived on: 2004-11-06

Stargate & SG-1 belong to lots of other people and entities. Jess was my idea. Thank goodness for late night visits from the Muse.

***Next Morning***

0800 - Hammond has returned from his trip off world to the alpha site with Teal'c.

In the briefing room, SG1 fills them in on the new arrival.

Hammond calls the meeting to order, "Dr. Fraiser. How is the young lady doing?"

"Well sir, she should be fine and back on her feet in a day or two. She's still a bit groggy from the sedatives we gave her last night, but she's been able to talk. I've given her every test we have to check for outside influences, including being host to a Goa'uld and everything has checked out normal."

He nods, asking, "Any news on the DNA results?"

She nods, looking into the file, then taking a moment to look at Jack, before answering, "Well sir, the tests are fairly conclusive. There is a 99% chance that the Colonel is her biological father."

At the news, Jack frowns slightly, running both hands through his hair. Daniel and Sam exchange glances, but say nothing.

Teal'c tilts his head in Jack's direction, asking, "Perhaps she is but another clone, something created from samples of O'Neill's DNA?'

Janet nods briefly, "There is that possibility. She could have been genetically manipulated using the Colonels DNA samples along with another human so her genes match his, but not be identical to his."

Sam asks, "Like a test-tube baby?"

Janet nods an affirmative.

Jack makes a face, "That's more than I needed to hear."

Janet continues, "Well, if you look at the copy of the file in front of you, you'll find something a bit more interesting about our new patient.."

Daniel asks, "It says here her date of birth is June 14th...uh...2001?" he gives Janet a sidelong glance, peering at her over his glasses.

Jack asks, `What...you saying she's 3 years old?"

Janet shakes her head, saying, "No sir." She continues for the rest of the team, "This morning I was trying to complete her medical file and asked her some routine questions. When she said 2001 for her birth year, I thought she was just confused. So I asked her what today's date was and she said fairly confident, `August 20th 2017."

As Janet speaks, Jack counts intently on his fingers, "So you're saying she's 16 and from the future?" directing his question to Fraiser.

Janet nods, saying, "That's what it looks like."

Daniel asks, "Does she know what year it is for us?"

Janet shakes her head, answering, "No...I didn't bring it up and I don't think she noticed that there might be something wrong. I'd actually recommend not telling her what year we're in, until we find out more of what is going on. If what she is telling us is true, I think her predicament will be difficult enough for her to cope with."

Jack shakes his head, interrupting, "That just can't be right then. Why would they let a kid go off world like that? "

Daniel says, "Well if her father is someone who could just, aah...demote someone on a whim...maybe he wouldn't see anything wrong with letting her go off world."

Jack glances over at Daniel, giving him a `that's just wrong' look.

Daniel shrugs, continuing, "Besides, if the notes I read on the journal we found in her pack really are hers, she does seem to know quite a bit about archeology."

Hammond asks, "Did she say anything else doctor?"

Janet shakes her head, "No sir. After answering just a few of my medical questions, she told me I was giving her a headache and that I should go away. And that was it." Janet closes the file in front of her. "She hasn't said a word since, to anyone."

Hammond shakes his head, taking a moment to collect his thoughts, "Ok people. I'm not exactly sure what to do here. What we know is that she is a potential security threat, so we need to treat her as such."

Daniel says, "But she's just a kid."

Teal'c says, "Children have been used as weapons against us in the past, Daniel Jackson."

Daniel nods, saying, "Yes, I know that Teal'c. But this just doesn't make sense. I really think she's here by accident. I mean, why go through all the trouble to make up something like this?"

Sam says, "Maybe she's a spy? I mean, she might not even know it herself. This entire thing could have been fabricated for us to trust her if we believed her arrival here is just an accident."

Hammond asks, "Major Carter, did you find anything on the readings you took from the gate when she arrived?"

"Well sir, aside from the gate increasing its power consumption to twice its normal amount, everything else was normal. However, there is good evidence to suggest that the gate behaved exactly like when the wormhole was redirected to the Stargate we found in the Antarctic."

Hammond asks, "So you think the wormhole she was in got shunted from her universe into ours?"

"Through time?" Teal'c adds.

"I'm not sure." Sam explains, "It's all theoretically possible. But everything, from sunspots to power surges...to who knows what else, would have to be timed to happen so, so perfectly, that I don't think something like that could just happen. I mean, it would be a one in billion...trillion chance of it ever occurring at all, let alone it happening naturally."

Hammond nods, saying, "Ok then. Major, you continue researching the feasibility of what we have just discussed." He looks over at Jack, who has been sitting quietly the during most of the meeting, "Jack, I want you to go and see if you can get the young lady to tell us more information about where she's from and how she thinks she got here."

"Me, sir?" he asks, "Isn't that more Daniel's...area of expertise?"

Hammond shakes his head, "No. I don't think that she'd be willing to open up to someone who she knows is dead in her world."

Daniel nods, agreeing as Jack asks, "Well, what about Teal'c?"

"I shall come with you O'Neill. I believe if you approach her with a firm hand, she will do as you ask."

"What makes you so sure?" Jack asks.

Teal'c explains, "She will perceive you as her father. No doubt she has great respect for his authority, as evidenced by her choice of words to Doctor Fraiser."

Jack nods, saying, "Allright, but that's only assuming she's telling us the truth.

Daniel adds, `I'd say that's assuming she believes that to be the truth. Even if this is all some kind of plot, she may not know it."

Jack shrugs a bit, asking, "Doc, when can we go see her?"

Janet arranges the files in front of her, answering, "You can go now. She was awake when I came here."

"Allright people. You all know what to do. Dr. Jackson, if I may have a word?"

Daniel nods, remaining seated as Hammond continues, "I need to ask you what you think the situation developing at the alpha site."

The rest of the team departs, leaving Daniel and Hammond talking quietly.

*To be continued - Feedback will be appreciated!!*

If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to whisper99

You can't save them all - can you? pt 3

You can't save them all - can you? pt 3

by whisper99

Summary: A slow night at the SGC brings the team a mystery.
Category: Alternate Universe, Mystery
Episode Related: 701 Fallen
Season: any Season
Pairing: none
Rating: 13+
Warnings: minor language
Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author(s).
Archived on: 2004-11-06

Stargate & SG-1 belong to lots of other people and entities. Jess was my idea. Thank goodness for late night visits from the Muse.

***At the infirmary***

Jack comes into the room to find Jess pushing around the contents of her breakfast with her fork. "'Morning." He says mock-cheerfully as Teal'c comes in behind him.

Jess looks up, staring at Jack suspiciously, but does not say anything. Jack gestures for the nurse inside the room to leave. He pulls up a chair to sit next to Jess. Teal'c stands to one side of him.

Jess raises an eyebrow slightly, glancing over as the nurse leaves the room, then over to Teal'c. "Hi." She says quietly.

"How're you feeling?' Jack asks.

"Like I got run over by something kinda heavy." She pushes the tray away from her.

"Not hungry?" he asks, noticing the tray looks untouched.

She shakes her head, saying, "Not really." She fingers the cast on her left arm, wincing slightly as she extends the fingers on it.

"Well, my friends and I want to be able to help you, but in order to do that, we need to ask you some questions."

She shrugs slightly, leaning farther back into the bed saying, "What is it with you people and all your questions?"

"Well, we can't exactly help you if we don't know how you got here."

Jess seems to consider this for a moment, saying, "Ok...so you've got a point there."

Shifting uncomfortably on her bed, she adds, "But what I'm thinking is that maybe I hit the ramp a bit too hard with my head and this is all just a weird dream. Y'know, maybe I'm in a coma or something."

Jack purses his lips considering that for a moment before saying, "Ok...so you've got a point there."

Teal'c says, "This is not a dream, Jess O'Neill. We are in fact real and you are awake and talking to us."

Looking up at Teal'c, Jess offers him a small smile, saying, "Thanks Teal'c...you always did know how to make me feel better. I believe you."

Jack cocks his head, "You believe him?"

She nods, saying, "Yeah...Teal'c never, ever talks in my dreams. He just stands around looking...I dunno...dangerous, I guess."

O'Neill nods, agreeing, "Yeah...he does that in real life too, sometimes. Ok...well, Jess...ah...Jess...is that short for Jessie? Jessica?"

She shakes her head, answering, "Na...it's short for Jessmin."

"That's different." He says.

Jess shrugs, "Yeah...I guess it is. Mom picked it out."

O'Neill cocks a brow, asking, "Mom?"

Teal'c interrupts the conversation, "O'Neill, should we not instead be focusing on the task at hand?"

O'Neill nods, "Right...yes, sorry about that. Got a bit sidetracked. Um...ok, so, what happened?'

Jess frowns slightly, trying to stick her fingers inside the cast to scratch an itch as she says, "I'm a member of SG12. We were on P3X-398, doing a routine archeological survey of what looked to be an abandoned trinium mine that doubled as some sort of shelter for an as of yet unidentified race of beings." She gives Jack a side-long glance, asking, "Can you tell I rehearsed this?" He nods, and she continues, "We had seven days to get as much information as we could then we had to go home. And so seven uneventful days later, we headed back to the gate." She starts to try to dig her fingers into the cast.

O'Neill tells her, "Leave that alone."

"It itches." She complains, but moves her hand. She sits on her good hand to keep from scratching as she continues, "Anyway, I fell behind because I dropped my pack. The rest of the team went up ahead of me to the gate. I ran to catch up, but they had already gone through. Just when I got to the event horizon, the gate shut off." She looks at Jack closely, asking with a hint of hope in her voice, "They're not...here...are they?"

Jack asks, "Who? The rest of your team?" She nods her head even as he shakes his, answering, "No. Only you came in through the gate."

Jess starts to finger her sore ribs as she continues, `So, I dialed the gate, and it wouldn't lock. I must've tried for an hour and I couldn't get the damn thing to work."

Jack and Teal'c exchange glances, Jack asking, "Did you try another gate address?"

Eyes downcast, Jess says quickly, "I um...well...no, actually...it ah...didn't occur to me."

Nodding, Jack says, "Do you remember seeing any kind of mirror device, maybe?" at that Jess shakes her head, and Jack continues, "Ok, so, how did you get the gate to work then?"

Answering a bit defensively, she says, "I dunno...I got tired of waiting so I tried again and it worked and I stepped through and whoosh, here I am."

Jack says, "Well, obviously something happened...wrong. Why do you think the gate didn't lock when you tried it the first time?"

"How the hell should I know?!" she answers exasperated, trying to sit up and failing miserably. "Ow, ow, ow." She says, holding her side.

"Hey, careful there. You don't need to go getting upset." Jack stands, trying to help Jess adjust a pillow so she can sit back down.

"I hate this." She mumbles under her breath.

"Yeah, I know kiddo." Jack says sympathetically. "I'll have the nurse come in and give you something for the pain, ok?

Lower lip pouting slightly, Jess looks up at Jack. Her eyes tearing, she says, `"You know, I've been gone what, one...two days now? This is going to kill my dad."

"Just hang in there, ok?" Jack says sympathetically as he reaches over to the stand to pull some tissues for her.

"All will be well, Jess O'Neill. We will find a way to return you to your father." Teal'c says reassuringly.

Wiping her nose, Jess nods. She settles into the bed as one of the nurses prepares a shot for her.

***Early afternoon***

Jess is sleeping soundly as Daniel enters the room. He puts a finger to his lips, making shushing motions at the nurse as she turns to watch him. He takes the small teddy bear they found in Jess' pack and places it in the crook of her arm. He smiles, looking down at the sleeping girl, reaching out to brush the hair from her eyes. He blinks, looking at her then glances about the room, as he hears soft crying in the distance. Shaking himself out of the thought, he leaves the room as quietly as he entered it.

***At the same time***

Jack approaches Sam in her lab, asking, "Carter."

Sam looks up, smiling as she says, "Colonel. How did the interview go?"

After Jack fills her in on the details Sam asks, "Do you believe her?"

Jack shrugs slightly, saying, "It's all soo...so boring. There isn't any reason _not_ to believe her. I'd expect something much more elaborate from a Goa'uld. For crying out loud, all she wants is to go home." He clears his throat, changing the subject by asking, "What about you? Find anything scientifically noteworthy?"

Sam nods, looking tired but excited, "Yes sir...actually, I was about to call you and the others to see. Here is video footage of the gate when Jess arrived."

They can see the gate activating, power fluctuating through it and then can see Jess being launched out the other end. "See this?" she points to a graphical representation of the wormhole. "We use this to identify incoming matter through the wormhole. Normally, this is what it looks like." She outlines the flow of motion with her finger. "This graph shows something we haven't really seen before. The first one I just showed you was Jess coming through the gate. But this one...this one was a few seconds before she came through."

Jack asks, "What? You saying something came through the gate before she did?"

Sam nods, running a hand through her hair, "Yes sir. That's what it looks like."

Jack asks, "Well, what is it? A Re'tu?"

Sam shakes her head, "No sir, I don't think so. I'm still doing some tests on the video, to see if we can maybe pick something up. As a matter of fact, I was just about to run a full spectrum analysis on this video." She punches up some keys on the keyboard, and the screen shows the security video again of the gate opening just before Jess's arrival. The video is infrared mode. Sam remarks "Look at the sparks of energy coming off the gate. That's incredible."

Leaning closer to the screen, Jack asks, "Is that what I think it is?"

"Uh...yes sir. Wow...uh...I think we better have Daniel come and look at this." Sam says as she rewinds the video.

*To be continued - Feedback will be appreciated!!*

If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to whisper99

You can't save them all - can you? pt 5

You can't save them all - can you? pt 5

by whisper99

Summary: A slow day at the SGC brings the team a mystery. More questions are asked than answers received.
Category: Alternate Universe, Mystery
Season: Season 7
Pairing: none
Rating: 13+
Warnings: minor language
Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author(s).
Archived on: 2004-11-11

Stargate & SG-1 belong to lots of other people and entities. Jess was my idea. Thank goodness for late night visits from the Muse.

***Late Evening***

Daniel helps Teal'c set out, then light the dozens of candles that surround them both inside room. He takes off his jacket and settles cross-legged in front of Teal'c.

Offering him a bit of a self- conscious smile, Daniel closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He finds himself dreaming, though strangely aware of his surroundings, almost able to sense the energy of the flickering candles around him. He is in a quiet place, listening to the teachings of Oma Desala. He hears her voice though he cannot see her, as she tells him "You cannot save them all, Daniel."

He turns around to look for her, but is startled when he hears a child crying in the distance. "Hello?" he calls out, trying to find where the sound is coming from. A moment seems to pass and he is standing in a room. Nothing in it is notable except for a skinny little girl, dressed in pajamas, who is sitting on the floor, rocking back and forth in a corner of the room.

Watching her for a long moment, Daniel finally approaches her, kneeling in front of her and asks gently, "Hello...are you ok?"

The child does not appear to hear him and continues rocking. Confused, Daniel straightens, calling out, "Oma? Why am I here? Who is this?"

Daniel feels Oma's presence next to him, although he does not see her. He feels her say, "She calls."

Daniel turns once again to look down at the girl, "I don't understand. What do you mean?"

Oma simply repeats, "She calls." And she appears next to the girl, reaching out and almost, but not quite, touching her head.

Daniel stands again, looking down at the girl, confused because he can still hear someone crying, but it's not the girl in front of him. She continues to rock herself but makes no sign of seeing anyone, her face devoid of any expression. A nurse comes in, checking on the girl saying, "Now, now, Doctor's going to want to see you soon. We need to make sure you're all nice and clean." The nurse lifts her up and carries her to the bed, checking to make sure she hasn't soiled herself. All the while, the girl pays as much attention to the nurse as she did to Daniel and Oma. When the nurse leaves, the girl manages to sit up on the bed and begins to rock herself once again.

Concerned for the girl, Daniel walks over to the bed and copies Oma's gesture, reaching out his hand towards the girl, asking, "Is she the one I hear crying?"

Oma stretches her hand out, blocking Daniels. "It is not for us to interfere, Daniel. This is the first and hardest lesson for any of us to learn."

"She's just a child...", and with that, he reaches out, lightly touching his fingertips against the girls forehead, brushing away the hair falling in her eyes. With that moment of contact, the girls eyes flicker up, and lock on Daniel's blue eyes. She cocks her head to one side, no longer rocking. Her face, no longer expressionless breaks into a happy smile, in her eyes a spark of recognition as they light up, "Uncle Daniel?" she whispers.

Daniel smiles, shaking his head as he realizes the girl can now see him. "My name is Daniel. But I'm not your uncle."

Still smiling, with a somewhat far away look in her eyes, she says, "You came back. I've been waiting." And she reaches out a hand and touches his cheek.

A bit startled, he nonetheless reaches out, taking her small hand in his and she squeezes his hand tightly, as if seeking reassurance. Seemingly mesmerized by the touch, he does not notice when Oma's presence leaves the room. "What's your name?" he asks the girl. She smiles, delighted and answers him with, "You're so silly!"

In the distance, he can hear someone calling out, "Daniel Jackson. Can you not hear me?", an insistent voice continues to call his name, even as he feels himself being shaken. "Wha..?" he blinks, appearing disoriented as he looks around the room. Looking up, he sees Teal'c kneeling beside him, with both hands on his shoulders, "Daniel Jackson, are you awake now?"

Daniel nods slowly, taking his glasses off and rubbing his eyes for a moment, "Yeah...what? What is it?"

Teal'c sits back on his legs, saying, "You have been deep into Kel'no'reem for several hours. It is in fact, almost 3am."

Daniel looks up, appearing startled at that, "I have not..." he shifts, trying to stand and groans slightly, "oh...yes...I guess I have. Why didn't you wake me?"

Teal'c stands, offering Daniel a hand to help him up, "When I finished with my meditation, I saw that you were still deep into Kel'no'reem and I thought it best to leave you. I could not know you would remain so for so many hours."

Daniel stands, rubbing his legs with both hands and stomping a bit, trying to get his circulation going, "Aaah...pins and needles."

"Did you discover something during that time?" Teal'c asks, offering Daniel a bottle of water.

"Uh...oh...uh..." he stands, stretching himself with a yawn, "Ah...I think so. Though I'm not sure what it all means." Running both hands through his hair, he scrubs his head, making a mess of his hair but hoping it will waken him further. "The little girl I heard crying...that was Jess. I'm almost sure of it." He gestures with his hands, palm side down, saying, "She was little though...hair was longer and in pig tails."

"How can you know her, if she is indeed from an alternate reality?"

He answers, sitting down to rub his left foot, grimacing as the pins and needles feeling starts to strengthen, "I don't know...I just know that I do. It was a memory, but it's not as focused. I didn't feel...I dunno, frustrated, I guess is the word, like when I remembered about Rya'c and Bra'tac. It all seemed so...new."

"Perhaps this is a memory from when you first ascended."

"You mean before I found out there were strings attached to all that great power and knowledge?"

Teal'c nods, "Perhaps."

"Ok...so what does it mean?" Taking a long drink from the bottle, he looks up over at Teal'c who is carefully blowing out the candles that remain lit.

"Perhaps it is no accident that Jess O'Neill has found her way here, however unlikely the scenarios we have discussed are."

Daniel says slowly, "Ok...if that's true, then _why_ is she here?"

Teal'c tilts his head, giving Daniel a close look before answering, "Perhaps you would be the best one to answer that."

Blinking his eyes a few times, he looks up at Teal'c, shaking his head, "I...I have no idea what to say to that. Yes...I _somehow_ have this memory of knowing her, but...how does any of that mean I know why she's here?"

"If you sleep, perhaps it will come to you. There are a few hours yet until the morning."

Daniel nods, asking, "Mind if I just crash here?"

Teal'c pulls a blanket from a drawer, tossing it and a pillow to Daniel. "If the floor will do, there is a mat behind you that should make it more comfortable." Daniel nods a thank you.

"Goodnight, Daniel Jackson. I hope that you remember more in the morning." Teal'c steps out from behind a partition, wearing only briefs as he gets ready to lie down in his bed.

"G`night Teal'c. Me too." Daniel sets out the mat, pulling off his pants as he covers himself in the blanket, laying down and putting his head on the pillow.

***Morning***

Jess nods at Fraiser, looking at the pill bottle she's given, "Right. One every four hours as needed." She hops off the bed, biting back a groan as the light impact jars her sore body. She takes a deep breath, smiling around the pain as she asks, "Ok then...where to?"

Fraiser points to the guard standing by the door and says, "Lt. Marshal will take you to the briefing room where you'll meet with General Hammond and the rest of SG1."

Adjusting the front of a blue jumpsuit, she reaches for a hat that's lying on top of the bed and pulls it on her head. Whistling a bit cheerfully, she walks out of the door, escorted by the Lt. and two other guards.

As Jess is escorted out of the infirmary, Janet reaches for the phone and places a call, "Yes sir. She's on her way now. Should be there within 5 minutes."

***In the Briefing Room***

Sam is reviewing some files in front of her. Jack is quietly talking to Hammond in one corner of the room. Teal'c watches as Daniel pours himself his fifth cup of coffee this morning.

There is a knock on the door and Lt. Marshal steps inside. "Sir. Here is Ms. O'Neill."

Hammond nods, gesturing as he says, "Come in." To the guards he says, "You can all wait outside." The guard nods, then steps aside, letting Jess walk in.

Tugging on the front of her hat, she looks around the room quickly, taking in who is there and says, "'Mornin."

Hammond pulls out a chair for Jess and says, "If you wouldn't mind taking a seat, we can get this started."

Jess nods, sitting down and soon starts to tap the fingers of her good hand on the table. Before Hammond begins to speak, Jess says quickly, "Um...now, don't take this the wrong way or anything. I really appreciate the help you've given me, y'know...I guess you didn't have to. Could' a chucked me back through the gate back the way I came. But anyway, just wanted to let you know that you can feel free to chuck me back out through the gate, right to P3X-398, anytime now." She finishes quickly before anyone can get a word in.

Jack answers by way of saying, "We don't make it a habit to not help people who show up at our doorstep, mostly broken."

Jess looks over at Jack, thinking what he said over. Hammond shakes his head, and tries to take control of the meeting, "Be that as it may, there are still some things that you need to know, Ms. O'Neill."

"Jess...call me Jess. And do please let me know what is so freaking important that you need to tell me before you let me try to get home." She swallows, frowning slightly as if trying to keep her temper under control.

"Young lady, you need to watch that tone." Hammond stares down at Jess until she mumbles an apology. He nods and gestures to Carter.

Sam stands up, glancing over to Jack, then back over to Jess before saying, "Jess...see...we don't actually know that there is any way to get you back home."

Jess shakes her head, starting to argue but Sam continues. "The gate sent you here from an alternate reality. We can't even begin to guess how it could have done that...but we do have a clue, maybe."

Jess gives Sam a bored look as she continues, "We want to show you some footage of your arrival through the gate. There is definitely something you need to see, that you may be able to help us explain."

As Sam presses play on the video, Jess rolls her eyes, muttering, "You have GOT to be kidding me." Sighing, she sits back and watches the tape, "What the hell is that thing?" Jess asks, when she sees the ascended being coming through the gate. "It's creepy looking."

Jack asks, "You don't...recognize that at all?"

Jess shakes her head, pulling off her hat and running her good hand through her hair. She fingers the knot at the back of her head, wincing slightly. She reaches in front of her for a glass. Teal'c leans forward, pouring her some water. "Looks like an octopus or something." She says as she pulls a pill bottle from her front right shirt pocket, fiddling with the top. Giving Teal'c a sidelong glance, she rolls the bottle towards him. He opens it for her and slides it back over. She quickly takes two of the pills.

Daniel says, "We have reason to believe that is an ascended being...an Ancient most likely."

Jess nearly chokes on her water at that. Wiping her chin, she asks, "An Ancient?"

Daniel nods but before he can continue, Jess interrupts him, "So what? Who cares? So a creepy-crawly decided to hitch a ride. Big deal. Can you all just dial the gate and let me go now?"

Jack has been watching Jess very closely the entire time and he finally says, "Y'know kid...you need to stop acting the brat and listen to what we're telling you." Sam shoots him an alarmed glance, but Jack ignores her and continues, watching Jess' reactions carefully. "You are 10 years in the past, Jess. Right now, the year is 2004."

Jess sits back in her chair, looking up at Jack with the same colored eyes, lifting her chin defiantly, she says, "So...what, you expect me to start blubbering or something? Ooh..lost in time with a bunch of losers. I _am_ GENERAL Jack O'Neill's daughter, in case you have forgotten, _Colonel_ and I know my rights. You can't keep me here."

Daniel breaks in, saying, "Ok...now is not the time to start those tempers flaring. That's not going to get us anywhere."

Ignoring Daniel, Jess continues to try and stare down Jack as she says harshly, "I am here because of some freak accident. I don't believe you that I'm 10 years back in time...between my reality and yours - what kind of crock is that?" she shrugs, "No, no...our...our time zones must be different somehow or something. Anyway, the Stargate doesn't go through time. It _can't_ do that."

Sam chimes, "Sure it can...we've been back through time, even forward through time using the gate. And with an Ancient being involved...well...anything is possible. Maybe he...she...wanted you to be here."

Jess stares at Sam for a long moment as the words seem to sink in; she stands slowly, walking over to the glass window overlooking the embarkation room. She fingers her cast, taking a few deep breaths, and asks firmly, "Why? What would this...Ancient...thing bring me here for?"

Having been quiet for most of the meeting, Teal'c prompts, "I believe Daniel Jackson may know the answer."

Daniel shoots him an alarmed look, eyes widening. He swallows as the rest of the team look expectantly at him. "Dr. Jackson...do you have some new information for us?" Hammond asks.

Daniel shrugs slightly, then nods, saying, "Well...ah...I had a dream last night. I think I remembered something....from the time I was ascended. Jess?"

She continues looking down at the Stargate as Daniel gets up and walks over to her. He stands just slightly behind her and to the left, "Um...where you ever in a hospital when you were a little girl?"

Jess works her jaw slightly, frowning as she answers, "Maybe..."

Daniel continues, "It was about a year or so ago for me...but...I remember being there. I was with you." He gently places a hand on her shoulder; he says softly, "I can't explain it really, but I think I heard you crying."

Jess turns around slowly, facing Daniel, looking up she locks gazes with him. In a heartbeat, she cocks her right shoulder, making a fist despite the cast on her arm and lays a punch on the unsuspecting Dr. Jackson. Sam and Teal'c get rush up to help Daniel who crashes backwards landing on the floor. Jess doesn't move from where she stands, rubbing her arm. Jumping up, Jack makes a grab for her. Breathing heavily, Jess doesn't resist, saying in a tight voice, "You get him the hell away from me."

Upon hearing the commotion, the guards quickly enter the room. Jack orders them away, saying, "I got it...it's all under control."

Hammond asks quickly, "Dr. Jackson? Are you all right?'

Daniel nods, holding his head as Sam tries to stem the flow of blood from a cut above his right eye. "Sir, I think he's going to need stitches for this." Hammond nods and says, "You two escort Dr. Jackson to the infirmary. Jack and I will finish our meeting with Ms. O'Neill here."

After the other members of SG1 leave the room, Jack steers Jess into a chair, and he sits next to her.

Hammond says, "Young lady, what the hell was that all about? Do you have any idea of what kind of trouble you are in at the moment?' he demands of Jess.

Jess says quietly, with most of the emotion gone from her voice, "It can't get any worse sir...besides, he was out of line."

"Listen up kiddo. This isn't a game. You can't just attack people." Jack says with a warning note in his voice. Jack stares into her face, locking gazes and sees confusion mingled with a hint of panic reflected in her eyes.

She looks away, and Jack can see her faade of strength start to crack as she says, "I...I'm sorry about that...I...he...he shouldn't have touched me..." She takes a deep breath, fighting back tears as she says, "Jack...I already told you once before...I don't know how you can be who you are and not understand it." Her voice cracks, "This is going to kill my father. I _HAVE_ to go back." She stares down at her hands rubbing the fingers on her bad arm.

Taking a deep sigh, Jack says softly, "Jess...we were hoping to tell you this a bit more diplomatically, but things obviously got a little out of hand..." Jack looks at Hammond for support. Receiving a nod, Jack takes a breath and continues, "We can't establish a lock to the gate symbols you gave us to P3X-398. There isn't any `going back' there."

Jess shakes her head, still staring in front of her, "No, you must be dialing it wrong."

Jack shows her a piece of paper with the gate address written on it, "Is that the address?"

She nods, saying, `Maybe your addresses are different than mine."

Jack thinks this over a minute, before saying, "Maybe...what's Earth's gate address?"

Jess looks up at him for a moment, tears sliding down her face. She shakes her head, sniffling saying, "No sir...I can't tell you that. But...how about this instead? P3C-117" she jots down the gate symbols best she can manage with her left hand.

Jack tilts his head, looking sideways at what she's writing, "The Nox homeworld." He looks up at Hammond, who says, "Get that confirmed." It takes a few moments for Jack to hand the paper to one of the guards outside and give him instructions. They sit waiting silently while Jess wipes the tears from her face. A few minutes pass, the guard comes in and whispers something to Jack.

"It's a match, Jess. Your gate symbols and ours do match."

Taking a deep breath, she admits in a soft voice, "Y'know...I'm an assistant to SG12's chief linguist, Josh Morrow. He got sick last week...couldn't make it to the mission. They would've rescheduled but I begged my dad to let me go instead. I told him it would be an easy mission." She laughs softly, wiping her eyes, "He never lets me go off world without him, but this once, he did." She shakes her head, saying, "This wasn't supposed to happen."

O'Neill watches Jess closely, putting a hand on her good one, giving it a squeeze. She looks at him, eyes wide, she whispers, "I...I don't know what to do..."

Her eyes start to look glazed over and Jack calls out her name, "Jess? Hey, don't go passing out on us. You aren't alone, y'know. We're all going to do everything we can to help you."

Her head lolls to one side, but she shakes herself out of it. Appearing to come back to her senses, she asks, "Where's Daniel? I think I need to talk to him now."

Hammond says, "Colonel...before we let her out of here, she needs to be restrained and under constant guard."

Jack looks up at Hammond, asking, "Is that really necessary??"

Hammond answers, "Do I need to remind you just who is in the infirmary at the moment because of our young guest here?"

"Ah...well, true." He stands, taking hold of Jess' arm and pulls her up. "I'll see to it, sir."

"See that you do." As he stands and makes his way back to his office.

Jack says quietly to Jess, "Are you normally this much trouble to your father?'

She sniffles and offers him a soft smile, "I like to think so."

Jack calls out to the guard and they manage to secure Jess' hands behind her back. She's escorted to guest quarters. She is insistent the entire way that she really needs to see Daniel.

*To be continued - Feedback will be appreciated!!*

If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to whisper99

You can't save them all - can you? pt 6

You can't save them all - can you? pt 6

by whisper99

Summary: A slow day at the SGC has brought the team a mystery. The team
finally gets some answers.
Category: Alternate Universe, Mystery
Season: Season 7
Pairing: none
Rating: 13+
Warnings: minor language
Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author(s).
Archived on: 2004-11-11

Stargate & SG-1 belong to lots of other people and entities. Jess was my idea. Thank goodness for late night visits from the Muse.

***Later***

Daniel enters the room, finding Jess sitting on her bed, eyes half-lidded. She lifts her head on hearing someone enter the room and smiles apologetically when she sees who it is.

"I'm really sorry about that." She gestures to her own eye, as Daniel fingers the tape holding the cut together above his left brow.

"Ah...ok,,,thanks. Would you care to explain why you hit me?"

He moves to starts to sit at the foot of the bed, but she shakes her head, pulling her legs up close to her body, saying, "You scared me. Um...It'd be better if you sat there." And she points to a chair close to the door.

"Oook..." and he moves to sit where she pointed. "So...you wanted to see me?"

Jess nods slowly, not looking at him as she fingers her cast. "Yeah...I...I'm going to tell you some stuff I've never talked to anyone about. So I'm sorry if I ramble but I've never had the practice of telling it, you see."

"Allright" he says as he watches her carefully, sitting back in his chair.

Jess hugs a pillow close to her body as she continues, "I was crazy once...I mean, really nuts, out of my mind...I think the clinical term was borderline psychotic. I was about 9, maybe 10 at the time... it's actually hard to remember."

"But you're better now, right" Daniel asks, sounding a bit alarmed.

She laughs, a short quick sound, "Oh yeah. I'm all kinds a better now. That was a long time ago, Daniel."

"My point is...back when I was crazy...you...I mean, my uncle Daniel was there with me. See...and this is important for you to understand..." she takes a deep breath to steady her voice, "After the war, my dad made a lot of enemies...He sent my uncle and I away, to keep us safe I think, but um...I guess something went wrong - I dunno what since I never could bring myself to find out later." Fiddling with her cast, she continues, "What I'm trying to say is...it was a bad time. Some people we didn't know came to the place we were staying and my uncle got mad and started arguing with them. I don't think they liked what he was saying, because more men came and then they started to fight. Somebody was holding me so I couldn't do anything to help. Then he started screaming at me, telling me to look away but I didn't because I wanted to see what was happening." She sits silently for a while, looking down at the pillow she has clutched in her hands.

Daniel asks gently, "What happened, Jess? What did they do?"

Jess works her jaw for a moment, sitting quietly as she alternately grabs the pillow with her good hand and lets it go. Finally she says, "They stabbed him. He was very brave, I think, because he didn't scream or anything. Not at first anyway, but the man that did it started twisting it around so I guess it must've hurt then because he did start screaming." Jess' voice drifts away.

Daniel sits, unsure of what say.

She continues, "I don't remember much of what happened for a long time after." Jess sniffles, wiping her eyes with the back of her good hand. "See, all I knew was that I was just waiting for him...to wake up and take me home."

Daniel whispers, "God...I'm so sorry."

She shakes her head, tugging at a ragged end of the cast on her arm, "Don't be. Wasn't your fault..." Shrugging her shoulders slightly, she continues, "I'd guess about a year after that... something different happened. I decided I was tired of waiting so I went looking for him. I got lost for awhile but I did finally find him." She lifts her gaze, looking now at Daniel with red-rimmed eyes, "Do you know what he said?"

Daniel nods slowly, answering, "My name is Daniel. But I'm...

"...I'm not your uncle." She finishes for him. "In my whole life, I can't remember being any happier than I was at that moment. I'd found him...and I knew everything was going to be ok. He...you... showed me the way home...".

"I woke up then...and I got better. Doctors said it was some new drugs they'd started me on. I never really gave it much thought...up until today." Taking a deep breath, she straightens her legs, sniffling some more she wipes her nose now with the pillow. "So...now you know why I freaked when you said what you said...all this time I thought it was just some weird hallucination. I hope you can understand. I didn't even think you were real when I saw you after I woke up here, y'know."

Daniel nods, saying, "Yeah...I got that. We all figured it was the concussion."

Running a hand through her hair again, she continues, "Well...yeah, I can see that." Reaching for the bottle of pills on the tabletop, she pulls the cap off with her teeth and downs two more. "Damn arm won't stop throbbing...I guess I deserve that."

Daniel asks, "You sure you should be taking so much of that?" but Jess shrugs, saying, "It's Tylenol...". Changing the subject, she says, "So...you know...about this whole Ancient thing you were talking about earlier. Um...and this is where my life gets a little more complicated."

Daniel perks up at this, asking, "So you do know something about the being that came through the gate ahead of you?" Smiling gently, he asks, "And how could it possibly get more complicated?"

She shakes her head, "Believe me, it can." She bites her lower lip as she tries to scratch an itch inside the cast, saying a bit hesitantly, "But about the creepy-crawly, no, I don't think I know anything about that. But the thing is, about that whole Ancient business, and I have no idea if this is going to make any sense to you, but, it's really important for you to keep in mind that I'm still mostly, um, y'know...human."

Standing swiftly, Daniel starts to pace the room, looking her over "Are you trying to tell me you're an Ancient?"

She shakes her head quickly, watching him as he moves, appearing agitated, "No, no, nonono...Um...but, um, I do have it on real good authority that my mom was."

He looks at her, smiling suddenly as realization begins to dawn, "So that's the connection then. That's probably how you were able to call me to you. How amazing is that? You were just a little kid. Do you know what this means??"

She looks up at him, shaking her head, "I have no idea...I'm still trying to fight the feeling this is some kind of freaky coma-induced dream."

Daniel gets all excited, forgetting her warning, he sits next to her on the bed, talking excitedly, "I was once ascended, Jess...that's how you and I were able to communicate."

"You mean to tell me you were all...octopussy?" " She wiggles the fingers on her good hand to mimic the wispy tendrils of an ascended being. She reaches out a finger and gently pokes him in the shoulder, "You feel pretty solid to me...just like you did back then."

He blinks, pushing his glasses higher up the bridge of his nose as he says, "Well...I'm human now. Um...but that's a long story. The thing is Jess...you obviously have some kind of gift. It's an amazing thing! We've never been able to communicate with an ascended unless they wanted to talk to us first." Unthinking, he reaches out and puts a hand on her shoulder, "With you, we'll be able to, to...open the lines of communication with them! Try to get them off that damn fence they're on and convince them to help us!"

Not moving, Jess raises her red-rimmed eyes slowly to meet with Daniels as she says, "Slow down there, superman...um..this is just all a bit much for me to take right now."

Daniel finally notices his excitement isn't shared and he scoots back a bit, giving Jess some space. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to jump all over you like that."

She smiles softly, "It's all right...I'm just...so you're saying that thing took me from my home and brought me here? Why? So I can be a glorified operator?"

Daniel nods quickly, answering, "Yes...well...maybe...um...actually, I don't know."

They both look up as there is a soft knock on the door and Jack steps inside. "Hey kids...just making sure you both are all right. It's been real quiet in here."

Jess raises both hands, palms facing out saying, "I haven't touched him...I poked him once, but that was real gentle like." She offers him a half-smile.

Daniel stands from the bed, looking a bit frustrated that they've been interrupted, "I'm fine Jack. We've really made some progress."

Jack leans against the wall, nodding as he looks Jess over, "Yes, but you've been in here for almost two hours."

"Jack, I don't think that her being here is an accident. And she's not some Goa'uld trick...She's telling us the truth."

"And you say that because...?"

"Because she and I have met before, when she was a little girl and I was ascended. And there's something else Jack."

Daniel places both hands on Jack's shoulders, pulls him closer to where Jess sits on the bed, and whispers "She's not human."

She pipes up, "I'm mostly human."

"She's half Ancient."

Jack gives Jess a long look, finally asking in disbelief, "Nooo...your dad? With an Ancient?"

Jess nods twice.

"She cute?"

Jess nods three times.

Jack stares at Jess, saying, "Sweet."

Jess stands from the bed, running her good hand through her hair as she begins to pace, "This is so messed up. I've been kidnapped by a creepy looking thing, literally dumped God only knows where or when, end up talking to a guy whose been dead for the last 8 years and all he" she gestures with her finger, pointing at Jack, "can think about if is my mom was cute. That's just so gross...ugh. Can you both just get out? I need to think or something."

Daniel and Jack exchange glances, and Jack nods, "Oh yeah, sure...sorry about that."

Daniel offers Jess a sympathetic look, saying, "We'll talk again some more tomorrow, ok?"

She nods, saying, "Sure." As they both leave.

*To be continued - Feedback will be appreciated!!*

If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to whisper99

You can't save them all - can you? pt 7

You can't save them all - can you? pt 7

by whisper99

Summary: A slow day at the SGC has brought the team a mystery. Dreams and Nightmares. Dreams or Nightmares?
Category: Alternate Universe, Mystery
Season: Season 7
Pairing: none
Rating: 13+
Warnings: minor language
Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author(s).
Archived on: 2004-11-11

Stargate & SG-1 belong to lots of other people and entities. Jess was my idea. Thank goodness for late night visits from the Muse.

****Later that night ****

Scene - Daniel is lying in the infirmary, unconscious with a large bandage on his left temple. Together with the stitches above his left eye, it looks like he had a rough day.

As Daniel dreams he finds himself standing at the entrance to a long bridge. It is very foggy and he cannot see the other end of it. Next to him stands a young man.

Daniel looks at the dark haired boy, grown tall if still a bit on the skinny side, "Shifu." It is not a question.

A smile as the boy nods, "Yes."

"You've grown."

"Time has passed for me as it has not for you."

"Uh...right. What are we doing here? What are you doing here? Where is here?" He asks as he looks around, trying to see across the bridge. It is very dark and the only thing clearly visible is Shifu and the entrance.

"Oma teaches that they cannot all be saved. She teaches that we are beyond interfering with events that take place around us. That to do so could cause irreparable harm on the whole."

`Ok...um..."

The young man turns to face Daniel, "The girl sought you out. You were young and answered her call. Oma allowed you to go, so you could learn. I followed...it was then that you broke the First rule. You woke the girl from her dreams - brought her back to herself."

Nodding emphatically, he says "Yeah...I think I remember some of that." He crosses his arms over his chest, holding himself tightly adding, "She was just a little kid...scared and alone. I know what that feels like." He frowns slightly at the memory.

"Oma said you could not save them all but you told her `It is only one I care about.' And I watched as you reached out to touch her face." The scene changes now to a park where we see children running and playing, although it is still dark.

"She showed you the effects of your actions. The girls fate would not be one of peace." The park changes to deserted streets, bombed out husks of buildings surrounding them. There is an image of a young woman, presumably Jess appearing battle hardened and wielding a gun, shooting at something. Horrified, Daniel watches helplessly as he sees the flash of an energy weapon go past him and strike her in the chest. She falls, just a few feet from where he stands but he finds he cannot move to help her.

Watching impassively, Shifu says, "It would have been better to leave her lost in her dreams. That was your first lesson."

Daniel shakes his head slowly, eyes widening as he stares at her lifeless body. He says softly, "I don't remember this."

Shifu offers Daniel a sad smile. The scene changes once again, a wooded area with autumn leaves carpeting the floor. He begins to walk as Daniel looks around slightly confused, but follows after. Shifu continues, "You returned with Oma to continue your lessons. But I wanted to know why you chose as you did. The way back closed as the child awoke - and I remained to observe, as I had been taught."

"I watched as she grew and I came to wonder at the life she had. Happiness tempered with remembered sorrow. I sometimes wondered if my life, had things been different, would have mirrored hers. At times, I thought to communicate with her - but the lessons Oma taught were still strong in me."

Daniel pauses to look at him, asking, "Shifu...you watched her as she grew up? Isn't that against the rules?"

He shakes his head slowly, moving now to stand at the bank of a river, "I merely observed...until...until it was clear that she would be no longer."

"No longer what?"

"The end of her life was near."

Perplexed, Daniel asks, "So you brought her here?"

Shifu nods, "She would not understand the dreams I sent her...she would not ascend to be with me. I made her remember...her need to be safe, to be happy. Through her need, she opened the conduit...and I...helped her to find you. I had hoped that the two of us could do what I could not alone. I did not know you were here like this. I did not know what had happened."

"Are you in love with her?" he asks softly.

Shifu looks up at Daniel, a smile reaching his eyes, but does not answer, except to say. "'It is only one I care about', I understand now what you meant."

The scene turns dark again; they are at the foot of the bridge once more.

Concerned now, Daniel asks, "Shifu, do the others know what you did?"

He nods, answering, "I believe it is time I taught those who will listen that we need not always be observers. There are times when one must act - I have learned merely existing isn't enough."

Daniel stares at him in disbelief, "Are they going to do to you what...they did to me?"

"They will have to find me first..." he smiles, offering a hand to Daniel, "Oma once said, you cannot save them all. But you saved the one...and now I've brought her to you. Perhaps she can help you save the rest."

Frowning, he asks, "Save the rest? What are you talking about?"

The fog rolls in as Shifu steps on the bridge. His voice echoes from the distance, "The answer is in the question you ask."

"Wait!"

Daniel awakens shouting, "No, wait!"

"Easy Dr. Jackson. You should lay back down now."

Looking around confused, he wonders at the fact he's in the infirmary, "Wha? What's happened? Why am I here?"

The night shift doctor places a hand on his shoulder, trying to get him to lie back down. She glances up a one of the nurses, saying "Let's prepare that sedative now." Turning back to Daniel, she says, "You had a bit of a fall Dr. Jackson and hit your head."

Daniel continues to try to sit up, saying, "I'm fine... I need to talk to Jess."

"Dr. Jackson, please try to relax. You've been unconscious for almost 12 hours."

Seeing the nurse approaching, he says, raising both arms in front of him, "No, no...I don't need that. See? I'm relaxing. See?" He lays back down as the nurse hands the doctor the syringe, "I ah...I really do need to see Jess though."

The doctor gives him a look, checking his pupils, before saying carefully, "She was moved from the base shortly after you collapsed."

He blinks, looking at the doctor in surprise, "I did not collapse...I...uh...please, I need to see Colonel O'Neill then."

`He's on his way now. We had standing orders to call him as soon as you woke up. He should be here soon."

The doctor puts the needle on the tray nearby and continues to check Daniel's vitals.

Jack appears at the doorway, smiling as he sees Daniel awake. "Hey...you gotta stop doing stuff like that."

Daniel sits up slowly, carefully eyeing the doctor as he says, "Jack...why isn't Jess still here?"

"Hammond had his orders, remember? The higher ups want a chance to question her."

"I need to see her. It's _very_ important that I see her right now."

"You aren't in any condition to see anybody right now, Daniel. Right doc?"

The doctor nods in agreement.

"Jack, will you please just listen to me! This...isn't a medical condition. Shifu did this."

"Come again?"

"You remember...Share's kid...the Harcesis child? Made me dream I was God's gift to despotism?"

"Uh...yeah...where does he fit into all of this?"

"He's the one that brought her here. He's the one on the video."

"Oh...ok...." He drawls out slowly, pulling up a chair to sit next to the bed.

Sitting up, Daniel says quickly, starting to sound agitated, "He's in love with her or, or something. He said that she was going to die and he was trying to save her. Actually, he was trying to get her to ascend, and somehow, he helped her find me. He thought between the two of us, we'd convince her to ascend." Clenching his jaw, he adds, " He had no idea what had happened to me."

Fiddling with one of the medical instruments laying on the table next to Daniel, Jack says, "This is starting to sound like a soap opera."

Daniel gives Jack a dark look, "The point is...right before I woke up, he told me that I saved her once and that maybe now she was could help me save `the rest'. "

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know. He left before telling me...no...actually, he said that the answer was in the question I asked and then he left."

"And what question would that be?"

"I have no idea!" Seeing the look he's gotten from the doctor, Daniel quiets down, saying, "But this can't be good. Whatever it is, she knows about it or something. Maybe it happened already in her world and she can help us avoid whatever it is."

"Well, if she does know something like that, no doubt the boys she's with now will find out about it and let us know. I'll keep you in the loop."

"No Jack, you don't understand. Shifu said he brought her to _me_. I don't think she's going to be talking to anyone else. I mean, for Gods sakes, you saw how she was when we first tried to talk to her."

Jack nods slightly, saying, "Well, I've got that covered. I sent Carter along with her, just in case, y'know...to supervise the questioning and keep her in check. Just in case."

Daniel rubs his eyes, looking around for his glasses, "So, what happened anyway?"

Smiling slightly, he says, "It looks like you fell asleep, fell out of your chair and hit your head. We don't think you were out for very long before the cleaning crew found you."

Wincing, Daniel reaches up and feels the bump on his head, "How'd Jess take the news of having to be transferred out of here?"

Jack quickly puts away the medical instrument he was playing with as it has fallen apart in his hands, "Oh, she was fine. Very up, really. She said she was looking forward to helping us in anyway she could."

Putting on his glasses, Daniel eyes Jack, "And you believed her?"

Jack licks his lips, thinking about this for a moment, "Well, it seemed like such a good thing at the time...but I see your point."

***Mid-Afternoon - Peterson Airforce Base***

Sam sits in a sectioned off area of an interrogation room and watches Jess through a one way mirror. Jess has her hands are folded on the table as she stares straight ahead. There are two men sitting directly in front of her wearing air force uniforms. One, a Lieutenant is taking notes as well as working a tape recorder, the other, a Major, is conducting the interview.

Major Tate swallows hard, frowning as he asks for the third time, "Ok young lady...we know that you can answer the questions I've been asking. This isn't rocket science. So, again, who is the president of the United States in 2017?

Jess offers Tate a glare, answering with, "You can kiss my..."

*ringtone*

Sam reaches down into her purse to answer her cell phone. "Hello? Yes sir. I'm here. Yes...well...they're not making much progress but it's only been about an hour. Everything seemed to be going fine, until a Major Tate took over the debriefing." She covers up a laugh, saying, "Well, by the looks of things, I'd say Jess agrees with your opinion of the Major." Looking up quickly as she hears a banging noise and watches as Major Tate thumps the table with his fist as if trying to make a point.

"What? He did? He's ok though, right? Sure...I'll let them know." She hangs up the phone, standing and calls the guard outside to get Major Tate for her.

After a moment, a red faced Tate approaches, "Major Carter? What can I help you with?"

"I've just received word that Colonel Jack O'Neill will be here within the hour with Dr. Daniel Jackson. They have some questions they need to ask Jess, so I was thinking now would be a good time to call a break."

He shakes his head, "I'm sorry, but the SGC doesn't have jurisdiction on this anymore."

Sam's eyes widen in disbelief, "What? You've got to be kidding. I'm under orders to supervise this interview process."

Tate says, "And I have my orders, Major. As of an hour ago, Ms. O'Neill has been classified as an unaccompanied refugee minor and all legal authority to act in place of parent or guardian has been granted to the NID." Clearing his throat, he continues, "We let you stay here as a courtesy, part of inter-organizational cooperation and to aid in Ms. O'Neill's transition. However, your assistance is no longer required. You may inform Colonel O'Neill that Ms. O'Neill has no authorized visitors as of yet."

Narrowing her eyes, Sam says, "You guys have been planning this all along, haven't you?"

Major Tate shrugs, gesturing to one of the guards down the hall, "Major Carter, I thank you for your assistance with Ms. O'Neill, but at the moment, I have an appointment to keep. If you would please let Sgt. Bellamy escort you to your car."

Sam eyes Tate, "This isn't over."

Major Tate offers her a tight smile, before turning on his heel and walking down the hallway.

*To be continued - Feedback will be appreciated!!*

If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to whisper99

You can't save them all - can you? pt 9

You can't save them all - can you? pt 9

by Whisper99

Summary: A slow day at the SGC has brought the team a mystery. Chapter: Without A Paddle
Category: Mystery
Episode Related: 704 Orpheus
Season: any Season
Pairing: none
Rating: 13+
Warnings: language
Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author(s).
Archived on: 2004-11-28

Stargate & SG-1 belong to lots of other people and entities. Jess was my idea. Thank goodness for late night visits from the Muse.

*****Infirmary - Early morning****

The infirmary is quiet and Daniel finds himself dosing in his chair. The feeling of being watched makes him stir and he opens his eyes, finding Jess awake and looking at him.

Sitting up, he says as he stifles a yawn, "Hey. It's good to see you awake." He moves his chair a bit closer to her bed, reaching out a hand and gently brushing the hair from her face. He smiles softly, asking, "How are you feeling?"

She reaches out and touches his cheek, letting her fingertips linger for a moment before pulling her hand back. Blinking back tears, she says, her voice sounding hoarse, "I look at you...and it won't stop hurting. I...I need it to stop hurting Daniel. You've been dead and buried in my heart for so long...but now here you are." Whispering, she says, "I think I'm losing my mind."

Quickly he reaches up his hand to take hers in his, giving it a tight squeeze and saying reassuringly, "No Jess, please don't feel that way. I...I'm sorry that my being here is causing you so much pain, but you need to know, you aren't losing your mind."

Crying now, she says, "I'm not so sure Daniel. I couldn't get the gate to lock - I felt so helpless. Nothing I did worked. I...I fell asleep and I dreamed something I hadn't dreamed since the day you died. I was lost and I was so scared. And all I could think of was that I wanted to go home so badly." Swallowing a sob, she continues, "And I just knew. I knew that if I found you everything would be ok. You would make everything ok. When I stepped through the gate, that's all I could think of. Not my dad. Not getting home. Just finding you was all that mattered. I chose you over everything else."

Pulling away from his touch, she says "And look...it worked. I found you...again." Covering her face with her hands, "I've lost everything. It's my fault. I did this."

Gently, Daniel moves to sit next to her on the bed, offering what comfort he can, "No...no Jess. It wasn't you... it wasn't your fault." Turmoil showing on his face, though Jess can't see it, Daniel fights with a decision. Finally making a choice, he says softly, "There's something you need to know."

***At the same time - Hammonds briefing room***

O'Neill sits in the briefing room, with Hammond, Major Tate and a General Rogers all discussing the events from the day before. O'Neill is arguing with Tate, accusing him of negligence with Tate vehemently defending himself. Rogers sits stony faced listening to the arguing, insisting that Jess is to be returned to Peterson Airforce base as soon as she is able to be moved. Hammond sits back, trying not to lose patience as he awaits the rest of the people joining them at the meeting.

Quickly enough, the door opens and Kinsey enters the room accompanied by Major Davis. O'Neill looks up, face set hard as he says, "Ah, Senator Kinsey...I should have known." Nodding a greeting, he says, "Major Davis."

Kinsey says by way of greeting, "Gentlemen." He takes a seat, continuing, "I'm here to make sure that Ms. O'Neill is returned to the NID immediately. She is quite possibly the most valuable thing to come through the gate since the inception of the Stargate program."

O'Neill frowns, growling, "She is not a thing. She is a kid who was kidnapped from her own reality and dumped at our footstep. She has rights."

Kinsey nods, saying in all sincerity, "Yes she does. This is why the NID has legal custody of her, to make sure her rights are protected."

O'Neill scoffs, "You call having her kept from visitors and sitting idly by while she overdosed on pain killers protecting her rights?!" Shooting an accusatory look at Tate, he adds, "Not to mention the fact that she was about to be kidnapped, thanks to your piss poor security!"

"We are only trying to protect her, Colonel O'Neill." Kinsey repeats, "We don't know yet who we can trust to visit her, and to your point, rightly so." He shrugs slightly, adding, "As for the apparent drug overdose, we've got an investigation open as to why the pills weren't removed from her possession when she was turned over to us. I believe they were prescribed by your own Dr. Fraiser? But that is beside the point, Colonel O'Neill. There really isn't anything to discuss here. We are all very grateful that you and your team happened to be in the right place to prevent Ms. O'Neill's kidnapping. But be that as it may, you don't have any say in anything concerning the girl."

Kinsey glances at Major Davis. Nodding, Davis looks over at O'Neill and begins to speak, "As a matter of fact sir, I wanted to review this report you turned in about the incident..."

Jack's eyes go a bit wild at Kinsey's words and he speaks over Davis, "To hell I don't!" He pulls out a piece of paper from his pant pocket and tosses it so it lands in front of Kinsey. Pointing at it, he says, "That's all _I_ need to get her away from you and your NID goons."

Looking none too pleased, Kinsey unfolds the paper and asks, "What's this?"

"DNA test results."

Reading through the paper, Kinsey laughs, "And what is this supposed to prove?"

"That I'm that girls biological father."

Kinsey laughs again, "You can't be serious?!"

Voice flat, Jack says, "It'll hold up in any court of law Kinsey. And believe me; I will bring the law into this if I have to."

In disbelief, Kinsey says, "For Gods sakes, she's from an alternate reality! It's not as if she's really your daughter. You'd risk exposing the SGC program all for this girl?"

"I won't have too. The results speak for itself. There's no test to determine if someone is from an alternate reality. We wouldn't even have to go there...if we didn't have to." he leaves this as an open ended threat.

Hammond asks, "Colonel, are you sure you want to pursue this course of action?"

Answering, he says, "Yes Sir. She's been through enough."

Kinsey hands the paper to Major Davis, giving him a meaningful look. Glancing quickly at the paper, Davis says, "This is unprecedented. I'll have to discuss this with my superiors at the pentagon."

Taking a deep breath, Jack moves to stand and addresses General Hammond, "I think I've said all I need to say at this meeting. If I may be excused, Sir?"

Looking displeased, Hammond nods, "We will talk again later, Colonel."

Scowling, Kinsey says, "This isn't over by a long shot, O'Neill."

Ignoring the comment, O'Neill steps out of the room. Once outside of view, he takes a moment to lean against the doorway, running both hands through his silvering hair. Shaking his head, he straightens, and then heads down to the infirmary.

***Infirmary***

As O'Neill approaches the infirmary, he hears a commotion and he groans, already knowing what to expect. He finds Daniel standing outside the door leading to the infirmary, with his glasses in one hand and the other pinching the bridge of his nose.

O'Neill pauses, watching him for a moment before asking, "Uh...what's going on?"

Daniel puts his glasses back on, looking up at Jack with a serious look on his face, "Well...Jess is a bit upset at the moment."

Starting to hear curse words, at least he assumes they're curse words because they're not in English, O'Neill raises a brow, "A bit...?" Clearing his throat he asks, "What brought this on...uh...is that...?"

Shuffling his feet a bit, Daniel nods, "She's cursing in Goa'uld." Giving Jack a sidelong glance, he half-smiles, "She's pretty good at it."

Trying to peer into the room, O'Neill asks, "Really? Hm...Teal'c would be impressed. Soooo...?"

Licking his lips, and avoiding eye contact, Daniel pushes his glasses higher up the bridge of his nose as he says, "Um...well...I told her about Shifu."

Giving him a direct stare, O'Neill asks, "You didn't."

Daniel nods again, ducking his head as he folds his arms across his chest, `I did."

Jack sighs, shaking his head, "Not the smartest decision you've ever made Daniel."

Eyes red and swollen, Daniel looks for all the world like he's about to cry. But he still manages to straighten his chin, and give Jack a defiant glare. He defends his decision by saying, "She has the right to know why she's here." Emphasizing his words now with his hands, he says, "It wasn't just an accident and it's not her fault. She really needed to know that."

"You told her everything?"

"Yes"

"Even the part about her having an invisible stalker for the last bunch of years?"

Nodding slowly, Daniel says, "Uh...I don't think of it that way...but yes, I did."

Staring at Daniel for a long moment, Jack suddenly makes a fist and fights back the urge to do some damage to the archeologist and he mock hits the wall instead, "God, Daniel! Argh!"

Jack takes a deep breath, makes as if to say more to Daniel, but then takes in his haggard appearance, noting how the cuts over his left brow starting to take on a purplish tinge and instead says, "Daniel...just go home. Go get some sleep." He gestures Daniel off with a wave of his hand as he walks into the infirmary.

Jess is sitting up in her bed, her face a thundercloud as she spouts off more curses to the unseen around her. He spies Fraiser standing arms akimbo looking at Jess, and he walks to stand next to her.

"How's the patient?"

Shaking her head slightly, Fraiser says, "Angry. What did Daniel tell her?"

Stuffing both hands in his pockets, he says noncommittally, "Oh...some stuff."

Shooting them both a glare, she shouts at them, "Don't talk like I'm not here! I'm not the invisible one, remember!??" and she spews some more choice words.

"So..uh...you aren't going to sedate her?"

Janet offers him a half-smile, as if saying, `I wish I could.' Instead she says, "I can't, not with the amount of drugs she's already had in her system over the last 12 hours. She'll be ok as long as she calms down in another..." looking at her watch, "2 minutes."

Raising a brow at Fraiser, she explains, "I told her she could be as mad as she wanted to be for 5 minutes as long as she didn't try to get out of bed. After that...we'll see..."

Jack shakes his head, wondering at Janet's patience with her patient. He says in his very best authoritative voice, "That's enough!"

Jess shoots O'Neill a murderous look, but quickly closes her mouth. She sucks in deep breaths through clenched teeth, alternately balling her good hand into a fist and straightening her fingers.

He gestures at Fraiser, motioning to her he's got it under control. She nods and slips away, giving them some privacy. Moving to stand closer to the bed, he stares down at Jess and asks, "Better now?"

Voice cracking, she tells him, "How could that thing do that to me? He used me...my pain..." she sucks in a deep breath, unable to finish the thought, instead saying, "My life is a joke."

Calmly, he responds, "No its not. You're alive because of what that Shifu kid did."

Lower lip trembling as she tries to control her emotions, she says, "He should've let me die. "

Shaking his head, he explains, "No...he shouldn't have. He did the right thing. Let me tell you something...if I was given the choice of letting my kid die, or having him alive someplace where he'd be safe, even if I never saw him again, I'd choose that."

Jess stares up at him listening to those words, tears falling from her eyes, "My dad didn't get that choice, Jack." She sobs and O'Neill sits next to her, gathering her up in his arms and lets her cry into his shoulder.

Jack holds her tightly, shushing her softly, "It's all right Jess." Remembering Teal'c's words to him, he says, "I've made the choice for him. You're going to stay here." He hesitates a moment before saying, "I don't want you to go back someplace where you're going to die. None of us do."

***Late morning***

After watching Jack walk into the infirmary, Daniel heads to his office with his head lowered and shoulders slightly slumped, wondering if he did the right thing after all. He hadn't expected her anger and wasn't quite sure he hadn't made things worse for the girl. Fighting the urge to blame himself for causing her so much pain, he changes his clothes, and makes his way to the surface, heading home as ordered.

He drives home mechanically, distracted by the turmoil in his mind; he doesn't notice a vehicle pull in behind him as he approaches the last stop nearing his home. The impact of his Jeep getting rear-ended brings him to reality and he mutters a curse, "Great. What now?" and he stops the car, getting out to see the damage.

*To be continued - Feedback will be appreciated!!*

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