Stargazers Stargaters TEEN XO/AU/CC M/L [COMPLETE]

[jane]

http://www.roswellfanatics.net/archive/ ... /5602.html

Hi everyone! Above is the link to the first 26 parts of "Stargazers".

Summary: After college, Alex and Liz (from Roswell) join the SGC. As the Stargate gives up its secrets, will their new colleagues in SG1 learn about the secrets the two friends still carry? Will they ever “dial up” one planet’s address in particular? Read and find out!

I am in the process of typing up part 27 and hope to post is some time this week! Thank you so much for your patience!

Love, jane

[jane]

Title: Stargazers/Stargaters
Author: jane
Category: AU, Futurefic, Crossover(Roswell/Stargate SG1)
Rating: TEEN (A few swearwords)
Disclaimer: The characters of Roswell belong to Melinda Metz, UPN, Jason Katims and all the wonderful people who we all love for starting this fabulous series (but who we are frustrated with, for messing up the beautiful, 1st season story line!). 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 or disrespect is intended. Not to be archived without permission of the authors. The dialogue for the ceremony at the beginning of this chapter was taken directly from an episode of Stargate SG-1. I use it here with thanks to the writers, knowing that I could not have come up with anything else which would have been so appropriate.
Summary: After college, Alex and Liz (from Roswell) join the SGC. As the Stargate gives up its secrets, will their new colleagues in SG1 learn about the secrets the two friends still carry? Will they ever “dial up” one planet’s address in particular? Read and find out!


Stargazers/Stargaters Part 27

Once Colonel O'Neill ordered everyone to “move out”, the entire group exited the conference room and were directed towards another by two SFs, where all of their luggage had been laid out on tables. SG-1 and Sha’re had disappeared for a few minutes saying only that they needed to change. While they waited for SG-1 to return, the two military personnel instructed several of the parents who had brought their good suits and/or dresses in hanging bags, that all of their clothing would have to be packed into their one piece of luggage.

“There’s no telling how a hanging bag would react within the worm-hole, Mom.” Liz explained.

“Don’t worry, once we arrive at our home, we can make any wrinkles disappear with a snap.” Isabel added soothingly.

So the parents repacked their luggage and were given brief instructions on how to best travel through the Stargate, by those in the group who already had experience. They had finished the briefing and some butterflies were starting to flutter around in several nervous stomachs, when the door opened and SG-1 came in.

“Whu-hoe! Daniel, Sha’re…Teal’c.” Alex exclaimed with a grin.

“Wow, Colonel, Captain!” Liz added looking admiringly at her friends.

Colonel O'Neill and Captain Carter had changed into their dress-uniforms, resplendent with all of their medals, especially O'Neill who had a chest-full of them. Daniel was wearing a sharp-looking navy-blue suit with a matching shirt and tie, which matched his eyes so well. Sha’re seemed to have taken her husband in hand even in the few days since she had been returned to him, since Daniel was not wearing the ugly brown suit he usually wore for special occasions. Sha’re in turn was wearing a long gown with long leaves, but made of a thin cotton which was printed in lovely earth-toned patterns reminiscent of North Africa and Egypt. And Teal’c was wearing all white; suit, shirt, slacks topped by his Panama hat, which hid his golden tattoo on his forehead.

“I feel distinctly underdressed.” Philip murmured as he looked down at this casual shirt and slacks.

“Don’t worry, Dad; you look fine.” Max assured him.

“The General ordered us to dress in our Class A uniforms since we will be acting as official ambassadors and negotiators for Earth.” Sam explained.

“Plus it’s always a good idea to look your best when you are going to be given an award.” Jack added.

“Yes, sir.” Sam said, but looked strangely at her superior. Jack for his part only raised his eyebrows innocently.

“If everyone is ready, we’d better be going.” Daniel said and the entire group picked up their suitcases.

SG-1 was also using suitcases so as not to wrinkle their uniforms. When the group neared the door to the Gateroom, Sam Carter made to turn and take the stairs up to the Control room, but an airman stopped her.

“Begging your pardon, ma’am; but the General requested that your entire teem join him in the Gateroom.” He said.

“Oh, alright, airman.” Carter said, shrugging.

The group had moved on without her, but SG-1 had hung back to wait for her, so they all walked into the enormous room together, Jack, Daniel and Teal’c in front, with Sha’re and Sam bringing up the rear. Then the three men separated once they were inside and Sam saw to her surprise most of the SGC’s personnel lined up in neat rows around the edge of the room. Liz, Alex, their friends and families had also been arranged neatly to one side and her father was standing smack-dab in front of them. A podium had been set up at the top of the ramp to the Stargate and General Hammond stood waiting behind it.

“Wha-what’s going on, sir?” Sam asked Jack.

Jack was about to respond when General Hammond spoke up from where he stood behind the podium.

“SG-1, will you come forward, please?”

Daniel left Sha’re and walked up the ramp with his teammates to stand in a row on its right side.

“Before you leave, I have one small bit of business which I thought best to perform here rather than on Antar.” General Hammond explained. “Please come to attention.”

Everyone in the room, even the civilians stiffened as the General read a letter.

“From the Vice-Chief of Staff of the Air Force; in recognition of Captain Samantha Carter’s outstanding work, I hereby authorize her immediate promotion to the rank of Major. Captain, step forward.”

After Sam stood by his left side, the General continued.

“The United States Air Force has recognized that you have fulfilled tasks and duties well beyond the rank of Captain. It is with great pleasure that I bestow on you the responsibilities, the respect and the rank of Major.”

As the General pinned her new rank insignia on Sam’s right epaulet, Colonel O'Neill came forward to pin the other one on her left. When they were done, Major Carter saluted her superiors smartly.

“Thank you, sir.” She told the General, smiling as Hammond returned her salute.

At this, everyone in the room broke out into applause and cheers. Sam blushed but turned to walk back down the ramp with her teammates.

“Well done…Major.” Jack O'Neill told her sincerely and then left to perform his duties prior to departure as Jacob walked up.

“Sammy, I am so proud of you!” Retired General Jacob Carter said as he hugged his daughter.

“Thanks, Dad.” Sam said trying not to cry.

“I am very proud of you too, Samantha.” Selmac added.

“Thanks.” Sam told the symbiote. “I’d better get up to the Control Room so we can leave on time.” Sam said to cover her emotions and Jacob let her go still grinning broadly after his little girl.

Someone brought the podium down from its place in front of the Stargate, most of the personnel went back to work and General Hammond joined the newly promoted Major up in the Control Room.

“Sir, thank you for this ceremony, it meant a lot, that it was performed here in the SGC.” Sam said, looking back over her shoulder.

“I believed that this honor should be given separately from the one you will receive on Antar, tonight.” The General agreed. “And that all of your scientific colleagues and fellow airmen should be present for the promotion you earned while working here among them.”

“Thank you again, sir.” Sam said trying not to let any tears fall. Her superior saw her struggle and cleared his throat gruffly.

“Everything seams to be a go, begin the dialing program, airman.” He ordered the sergeant who was seated in front of the computer.

“Yes, sir; Stargate dialing, chevron one engaged…” He said.

Down in the Gateroom, Daniel, Liz and Alex were preparing their friends and family for what they were about to see, but gasps and one startled cry came out of Amy DeLuca’s mouth as the wormhole was established and the Stargate whooshed out its wave of energy. Max left the group and ran up the stairs to the Control Room. As Max spoke to his people on Antar, giving the required security codes, the parents received their first realization that they were truly about to travel to a distant planet, an alien land…because Max was not speaking English, but another language, the like of which none of them had ever heard before.

“What is Max saying?” Nancy asked Daniel.

“Um, I don’t really know, Mrs. Parker; I haven’t had the chance to really learn Antarian yet.” Daniel admitted.

“I would imaging that he is informing his people that he and the others are returning home and that they are brining guests, Mom.” Liz said.

Just then, Max finished speaking and he and Major Carter came back down into the Gateroom.

“Okay folks, as we explained before, we’re going to use the buddy system.” Jack O'Neill explained. “Major Carter, Teal’c and I will go through first to show you how easy it is; those of you who have stepped through the Stargate before, take the hand of the first-timer you’ve been partnered with…and let’s go!”

Michael took Amy’s and Maria’s hands, Alex took his father’s, Isabel took each of her parents’ hands, Liz took Jeff’s and Max took Nancy’s, while Kyle and Jim Valenti declined to hold hands but instead walked up the ramp besides Daniel, Sha’re and Jacob Carter. One by one, they all stepped through the Stargate and only moments later stepped out onto Antarian soil.

Everyone was exclaiming, chattering and or laughing after the experience as Max gently disengaged Nancy Parker’s hand from his own before he and the other three royal Antarians walked over to the guards who were positioned nearby. Here the parents saw the first sign of the four young people’s authority as the guards snapped to attention upon their leaders’ approach. Their conversation took only a few minutes but when they returned to their friends and families, Max and the others were wearing the headbands which marked their royal rank.

“I like it!” Liz whispered to Max as she brushed his bangs off of his forehead so that the headband was more visible.

“You do?” Max asked. “Well, you’ll be given a set of your very own as soon as we’re married.” He reminded her and then turned to everyone else. “Welcome to Antar, everyone. If you’ll follow me, we have some transports which will take us down to the Capital, waiting outside.”

Everyone agreed to that, picked up their luggage and followed Max and Liz out of the giant cave. But as they came out into the sunshine, it was Max’s turn to be surprised. A huge crowd of perhaps hundreds of his people had gathered outside the cave to welcome their leaders home. They were cheering, clapping and singing with joy.

“Oh man, I begged them not to do this!” Max muttered to Liz, his ears starting to turn red as he turned back to the crowd and shyly smiled and waved at them.

Jeff Parker had heard the remark and wondered at Max’s modesty; that all the power and popularity had not gone straight to the young man’s head. Meanwhile, Max was holding up the hand which was not still holding onto Liz’s smaller one, to quiet the crowd.

“Thank you so much for this wonderful welcome, everyone!” He called out in Antarian as Michael, Isabel and Tess quietly translated for their friends and family. “As you know, the four of us traveled to Earth only to attend a birthday party and wound up being reunited with our soul-mates.” The crowd burst out in cheers again until Max’s raised hand quieted them down again. “We were also reunited with the families who took us into their homes and raised us while we were on Earth. We have brought all of them, as well as our friends; SG-1 with us so that they could all see our home planet of Antar and get to know many of you as well.” Max finished and the crowd broke out in cheers to welcome all of the visitors.

“Thanks again for being here today!” Isabel called out in a friendly dismissal and the crowds started to disburse.

“Before we go down, take a moment to look around.” Max suggested to everyone in their group.

As they looked down upon the Capital of Antar, everyone saw the beautiful, yet alien architecture of the city below them and the exotic loveliness of the flowers, plants and trees, which covered the hillsides or decorated the parks among the buildings, in the city below.

“This is incredible, Max!” Philip managed to say.

Everyone else had been silenced, unable to think of anything to say, which would be worthy of the beautiful sight which lay before them.

“Yes, it is.” Max agreed, looking down at his Capital. “Let’s go down now, shall we? If you will all please take seats within these vehicles.” Max pointed out the hover-craft which were waiting nearby.

Everyone did so and they were soon making their way down the hill, faster than anyone could have jogged down on foot but still slow enough to be given a great view of the countryside. The hover craft stopped at the outskirts of town and everyone exited the vehicles but left their luggage inside at Max’s instruction. The vehicles took off again, towards the Royal Manor while the group started to walk down the street.

“We don’t have fare to walk and I thought that you’d have a better chance to see our city up close this way.” Isabel explained.

As they passed Khivar’s royal palace, Daniel made a point of explaining to the parents what the building had once been and what it had recently become. Jack also pointed out the playground and explained that the Royal Four had been the ones to design and build it. When they all arrived at the manor, Isabel led everyone inside and gave them all a quick tour of the downstairs rooms; the livingroom, diningroom, library and kitchen before taking them all out onto the lovely back patio where drinks had been left for them and several other people were waiting.

“As you can see, we don’t have a lot of room here; just five bedrooms upstairs…” Isabel said. “So we asked if some of our friends wouldn’t mind hosting you while you are here and they all graciously said yes. They will be your hosts as well as interpreters, when we cannot be with you, as most Antarians do not speak English.”

“Anywhere’s fine as long as hosting us isn’t too much trouble.” Diane said sincerely.

“No trouble at all, Mrs. Evans; we are honored and happy to host the parents and friends of Zan, Valondra, Rath and Ava…known to you of course as Max, Isabel, Michael and Tess.” A woman stepped forward to say.

“Mom, these are Paala and her husband, Josso; they will be yours and Mr. Whitman’s hosts.” Isabel said.

Then she introduced everyone else’s hosts as well. The Parkers and Amy DeLuca were staying with another couple.

“SG-1, you will remember Mardall, Tholla, Seria and Beneck.” Isabel pointed out the four-square who had fought beside them aboard Apophis’ mother-ship. “Teal’c and Jim, you will be staying with Mardoll and Tholla, while Jack will stay with Seria and Sam, you will be staying at Beneck’s house. I hope this isn’t against your regulations or anything; a woman staying with a man and vice-versa. I’m just trying to match you up with people you already know and have common interests with. As you’ll remember, Jack; Seria is more the warrior while Beneck is one of our best scientists for all the butt-kicking their four-square accomplished, fighting Apophis…and of course as you are our guests of honor they will be your escorts for the party tonight as well.” Isabel explained.

“No, that’ll be fine.” Both Jack and Sam said casually…too casually, Isabel thought as she hid a smirk and watched the two officers surreptitiously glancing at each other as they said it.

Max gave Isabel an intense stare for a moment, one she returned with an innocent glance before continuing. “And Sha’re and Daniel will have the guest room Sha’re occupied before.”

The hosts then moved forward to introduce themselves before leading their guests to their homes where they could rest a little and freshen up. After seeing their parents off to their accommodations, Max turned back to Liz and the others.

“Uh, why don’t the rest of you make yourselves comfortable, either outside or within…Isabel and I have to go speak to Valaria…our birth-mother. While she knew about Apophis’ attacking Antar and SG-1’s coming through the Stargate to fight beside us, she does not know what happened after that…our traveling through the Gate back to Earth or about our being reunited with all of you.”

“Uh oh.” Alex murmured uneasily.

“Do you want me to come with you, Max?” Liz asked.

“I’d love to have you beside me, Liz; but I think it would be best if only Isabel and I speak to her this time…explain everything.” Max said.

“Of course…but if I can help…” Liz agreed.

“Thanks for that, Liz…I love you.” Max murmured softly to her as he kissed her cheek, but then turned away and walked beside his sister, through some saplings and bushes to a house partially visible beyond them.

“How is Valaria likely to take the news about you guys being reunited with us?” Liz asked Michael and Tess.

“I don’t know, Liz.” Michael replied. “Valaria is a Very strong woman, one of Antar’s best and most beloved queens…she ruled beside her husband for many years and then brought our people through over fifty years of civil war…and yet sending her children away from herself and this planet to keep us safe and to allow us to grow up was one of the hardest things she’s ever had to do.”

“Max and Isabel will have to convince her that they will never leave Antar to live on Earth again.” Tess finished. “All of us, especially you Liz and Alex will have to make your homes here on Antar and only commute to Earth if necessary…”

The friends had talked back and forth while they relaxed out on the lovely patio; Michael and Tess answering the first of their many, many questions for over an half hour, when Max and Isabel returned followed by an older woman. Everyone stood when they saw her and realized who she must be. Max and Isabel came to stand before their friends with Valaria in between them.

“Mother, I’d like you to meet our loves and very good friends.” Max said before he began to introduce everyone to her…Isabel introduced Alex and then finally…”Mother…this is Liz; Elizabeth Claudia Parker. Liz, this is our mother; Her Royal Highness, Valaria, Dowager Queen of Antar.”

Max introduced them formally, unlike the casual introductions he had made for everyone else. Liz was special…to him and to Antar, as she would be taking his mother’s place as Queen of Antar by his side, one day soon.

“Your Highness.” Liz somehow said and did all the correct things; dipping a quick yet graceful curtsy to the older woman. “It is an honor and pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

“Elizabeth Parker, it is my pleasure to meet you and to welcome you to Antar.” Valaria replied rather stiffly but then she smiled and her amber eyes lit up. “Zan has been talking about you for years…I am glad that he was able to find you again…I know that you have made him very happy.”

“I hope so, ma’am.” Liz replied smiling back at her.

“Wow, I guess the meeting went well with mommy-dearest.” Maria whispered to Michael who nodded.

“Valaria was concerned that we would abandon her and return to Earth, but we have assured her that we will never do that to her or our people.” Isabel explained. “After that, she insisted on coming out to meet you all right away.” Valaria nodded.

“My children…” Valaria’s open arms encompassed all four of them. “Have told me a great deal about all four of you over the years…and about your parents. I look forward to meeting them tonight.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Alex said smiling.

“Well I know that you want to get out and look around and that Zan has some other business which he must attend to, so I will leave you be for now.” Valaria said.

“Thank you, Mother.” Max told her and she lifted her hands to stroke the cheeks of her son and daughter.

“May you always be happy together with your soul-mates.” She said and then turned to retrace her steps back to her nearby home.

“Uh, guys; where did Daniel and Sha’re go?” Max asked, after Valaria had left; only just noticing that their friends were missing.

“Sha’re took Daniel inside, to show him their room and then I think they were going to walk in the gardens, out front.” Liz explained and Max nodded.

“So, what’s the plan for the rest of the day?” Kyle asked them.

“I have to meet with the Council…I know it will probably be boring for you, but would you like to come with me, Liz?” Max asked.

“Sure, Max.” Liz agreed.

“Good!” Max smiled. “That shouldn’t take too long; since I kept in touch with them while we were gone. Our parents should be coming back soon and then the rest of you can take a tour of the Capital. Liz and I will catch up with you after my meeting…but before they do come…Isabel, what are you planning for Jack and Sam?”

“What do you mean, Max?” Isabel asked innocently.

“I know you made the arrangements for SG-1’s accommodations before we even left Antar and then you asked me to confirm them with Seria and Beneck when I checked in the other day…” Max trailed off but pinned his sister with his amber stare.

“Okay, okay…I’m just…trying to get them together.” Isabel explained. “Even a blind man could see how much they mean to each other and from what I’ve heard they’d do anything for each other…except admit their feelings to the other…or take any steps to change the regulations which keep them apart.”

“That is true.” Alex agreed. “I’ve heard around the SGC that they’ve risked their own lives to save each other’s; of course they more or less live together when they travel off world and somehow manage to get along and have become best friends.”

“So what are you planning exactly?” Max asked Isabel.

“Well, I figure all the other circumstances for bringing two people together have already happened to Jack and Sam; they’re good friends, they have a lot in common in their work, yet also have their own individual lives, they have fought side by side, seen each other wounded and vulnerable!…What else is there? I’m going to make them jealous!” Isabel stated, rubbing her hands together in glee.

“Oh man, this should be good!” Michael smirked.

“But what about Seria and Beneck, mightn’t they get hurt; being in the middle of all this?” Liz asked.

“I don’t think so, Liz.” Isabel assured her friend and brother who were both worried about the consequences. “Seria and Beneck are both just good friends and are in on this for the fun of it…nothing is going to happen between either of them and Sam or Jack. I just think that they’ll really hit it off with their house-guests; have a lot to talk about. They are both quite charming and will probably get the laughter flowing in no time flat…and besides which you have to admit…Seria is lovely and Beneck is quite handsome…although not my style…” Isabel assured Alex who only grinned back at her, secure in Isabel’s love and his feelings for her in return. “That should spice it up just enough to make things sizzle!”

“So they’ve saved each other’s lives and are really good friends, but how can you be sure that there really is that ‘something extra’ hidden somewhere within those two?” Maria asked.

“I saw some interesting things when I dream-walked them.” Isabel said grudgingly.

“You dream-walked them, when?” Kyle asked.

“When we first came to Earth.” Michael answered for her. “We felt pretty secure in our relationship with SG-1, but we had to be sure that there wasn’t anyone with an ulterior motive, working at the SGC, so I asked Isabel to check them out for us.”

“Uh…huh.” Kyle said thoughtfully and then grinned. “So, what kinda stuff did ya see?” He asked.

“I’m not going to tell you that, Kyle!” Isabel rebuked. “Michael and I had an agreement that I would only tell him anything which pertained to us…everything else was to remain private.”

“Oh come on!” Kyle exclaimed.

“Just a little something!” Tess begged.

“There must have been something really good to make you turn into a match-maker!” Maria said.

“Nah, she’s always been a stick-her-nose-into-other-people’s-business-and turn-their-lives-upside-down-kinda-girl.” Max said standing a safe distance from his sister.

“Oh you!” Isabel exclaimed irritated. “Oh all right! There was one rather sweet thing I saw which I guess I can tell you about, but no more than that and you have to promise not to tell anyone else about it.” Isabel insisted.

After all of the friends agreed, she told them.

“There was a time, not too long ago, when Daniel and Sam were wounded while SG-1 was off-world. Sam’s wound was only superficial, but Daniel’s was rather serious. Anyway, on the day Daniel was to be released from the Infirmary, Sam, Jack and Teal’c came to pick him up. When she saw him, Sam hugged Daniel in a friendly, I’m-glad-you’re-okay-kinda-way. What I saw in one of Jack’s dreams was his wish that Sam would hug him that way in the very least, instead of calling him ‘sir’ all of the time and saluting him…there were a lot of emotions which came along with that dream, but I’m not going to tell you lot about any of them.” Isabel finished and her friends groaned.

“Oh…that is so sweet! So the crusty Colonel has a soft, gooey center?” Liz asked.

“Well, at least a small one and he really wants it to ooze all over Sam.” Isabel agreed.

“What about Sam, you must have seen something in her dreams too.” Alex coaxed.

“Yes I did…” Isabel said grudgingly but then relented. “Oh all right, I’ll tell you about just one time…um… Sam and Jack were trapped inside an ice-cave and Jack was badly hurt. In the end, right before they were rescued, Jack started to hallucinate and thought that Sam was his ex-wife…in her dream, Sam wished that she was his wife so that she could comfort and love him at other times besides when he was at death’s door.”

“Wow…” Maria sighed.

“I think we get the picture, even if we didn’t get to hear any of the ‘good stuff’!” Alex said.

“Yeah…it’s a go for ‘Operation Matchmaker’!” Max agreed and everyone grinned before he took Liz’s hand and led her away from their friends and towards the Council meeting. “See you later, guys.”

TBC Feedback please! Thanks for being so patient, everyone! I'll shoot for another chapter to be ready in a week, but I can't gaurentee it.
Hey, KK I've posted a new part, when do I get to beta your next part, hmmm?!! LOL! ~jane

[jane]

Thanks for being so patient everyone! Sorry you had to wait so long...I was watching the season finale for S6 of SG-1...had to see the return of Daniel Jackson...Yaaay! Okay, on with the show and hope you enjoy! ~j

Stargazers Stargaters Part 28

The parents and SG-1 returned to the Manor with their hosts, after freshening up a bit, at the same time that Daniel and Sha’re returned from their walk through the front gardens.

“Where are Liz and Max?” Jeff asked.

“Max needed to meet with the Council and asked Liz to accompany him.” Isabel replied and Jeff frowned.

“What’s wrong, honey?” Nancy asked her husband.

“Well…” Jeff hesitated and then continued. “Don’t you think Max is rushing things? Liz hasn’t been on Antar for even one hour and he pulls her away from us so that she can sit in on a Council-meeting.”

“Mr. Parker, I think my brother just wanted to keep Liz close by, no matter where he needed to be.” Isabel explained. “But, on the other hand, when they marry and Liz is made our queen, she will officially become one of Max’s closest advisors…which actually, she always has been. Liz may be bored at this meeting, but it might help her to begin understanding our ways here on Antar.”

“I…guess so.” Jeff conceded thoughtfully.

“So, does everyone have their walking shoes on?” Tess asked brightly. “We thought we’d take you all on a tour…SG-1, you are welcome to come with us, we’ll point out several areas of interest to you as we go, or your hosts will be happy to guide you individually.”

“I think seeing an overview of the city would be a good idea.” Jack answered and with that, the group started out.

Over an hour later, Max and Liz caught up with their friends and Jeff was reassured by the happy expression on both his daughter’s and future son-in-law’s faces as well as their interwoven fingers and clasped hands. And as well as happiness, there was a look of respect streaming out of Liz’s eyes each time she glanced up at Max.

“So, how’s the tour going and where are SG-1?” Max asked.

“They asked Seria and Beneck if they could go and see some specific places we passed, which would be of more interest to them, than to us.” Tess explained.

“How did the meeting go, Liz?” Maria asked.

“A little boring since I didn’t really know what they were talking about, even though everyone spoke English on my account, but it was okay and the Council members were all very nice.” Liz said and then thought to herself. ‘But I loved seeing Max at work; I’ve always respected his intelligence and leadership ability, among other things, but I think I respect him even more, after witnessing how well he handles all of the information he is given and the decisions he must make.’

None of their friends and families might have heard Liz’s thoughts, but they could not miss seeing her loving glance strengthen with the respect she felt for her soul-mate…and grin to each other.

“So, what’s the plan for the rest of the day?” Philip asked.

“We thought that we might show you some of the countryside villages and have a pick-nick up in the hills.” Isabel said. “We want you to take it easy while you’re here; remember that our days are thirty hours long instead of twenty-four and that takes some getting used to.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, but Max turned to Liz.

“I’m sorry, Liz; but I’m going to have to stay here and meet with SG-1. We’re going to start our negotiations.” Max explained.

“I’d be interested to sit in on those talks with you, Max; but I know that SG-1 have everything well covered, so if you don’t mind I’ll go with everyone else.” Liz replied.

“I’ll miss you.” Max whispered. “But I know you’ll enjoy seeing the countryside villages.” Max told her before kissing her brow.

So, the parents and friends with Isabel, Michael and Tess headed out while Max contacted Beneck and asked him to bring SG-1 back to the Manor. When they arrived, the four Earthlings and Sha’re Jackson agreed that they were eager to sit down and begin discussing what both sides wanted to gain from their treaty.

Max was willing to share Antar’s communications, space travel, medical and other technologies; their military strength was psi-based and therefore unusable by Humans. Antar, on the other hand, needed technical personnel to add to their own tech-people, to rebuild their space fleet. Colonel O'Neill gave the SGC’s position; they were willing to share the information they had gained about the Goa’uld, they wanted to work with and learn space-ship building techniques from the Antarians and O'Neill suggested that they work together to build two faster-than-light-ships, one for Antar and one for Earth. Jack also suggested setting up a small training facility in which both Antarian and SGC soldiers could be trained to fight the Goa’uld and protect each of their planets. The U.S. military had already started to specially train some of its officers in techniques for fighting the parasites, but needed a proper and top-secret base in which to do the training.

“As things stand now, we foresee the closing off of several floors of the SGC to run training scenarios, once the first batch of specially picked troops graduate. Having a facility here would benefit both of our worlds.” Jack finished.

“Jack’s right, but if our two peoples are going to work and/or train together there is the little problem of our two different languages.” Daniel spoke up. “Will all Earth personnel need to learn Antarian and vice versa…I could foresee that as being quite a problem.”

“That is a good point.” Max agreed. “But we have a solution which up until now hasn’t been necessary, since the four of us speak English. We have a method which allows a person to learn key information or facts in a very short period of time. This method works very well for learning other languages; in fact that’s how the four of us were taught our native-tongue after we returned to Antar. This method does not work well, however for teaching concepts or advanced theory…anything which will be built on, added to, or need to be analyzed, etc.”

“So that’s why we will need to be personally taught your technologies.” Sam nodded understanding. “But being able to use this method to learn Antarian will be fantastic; I’ve never been very successful at learning other languages.”

The group continued to discuss how the method worked and how it could be implemented on both SGC personnel and Antarians alike. They also made good headway in figuring out what technologies they were willing to share and through what manner the information could be exchanged. Finally, though the afternoon passed and it became time for everyone to rest a little and then dress for the ceremony.

Two hours later the friends, family-members and hosts all gathered on the back patio of the Royal Manor. O'Neill and Carter were back in their dress uniforms, Daniel in his sharp blue suit, Teal’c in his white one and Sha’re in her lovely print dress. The parents had changed into suits and pretty dresses as had Alex, Kyle, Maria and Liz, respectively. All of their hosts were in Antarian costumes of slacks or long, full skirts and sleeveless tunics, but over these they wore long hemmed, long sleeved coats, which were made of light materials so they floated out behind the wearer. Most of the men wore solid-colored coats of all colors and the women wore brightly patterned designs on theirs.

Liz thought that Max looked very handsome in his dark gold or amber-colored outfit, with the same brown embroidery down the left-front of his coat, which had been sewn onto the front of the tunic he had worn earlier. The color of his outfit set off his tanned face and brought out the gold highlights in his dark brown hair. He also wore a matching headband, this time with a thin brown cord woven through it and he wore the band on top of his hair, except for his bangs, which insisted on falling over the band.

For his part, Max thought that Liz looked gorgeous in her burgundy halter-dress. It had no sleeves or back to it, instead the glimmering fabric spread out and down from the high neckline in soft, vertical folds to the waist where it gently circled around to her back and then became a long, full skirt which almost sparkled as she gracefully walked beside him.

“I hope we aren’t too late.” General Hammond said as he and Dr. Janet Fraser walked up to the group, having just come through the Stargate and been brought down the hill by one of the Antarian guards.

Both were wearing their dress uniforms. The General had come because of course he was SG-1’s commanding officer and Janet had come because she was Sam’s best friend and she would also be studying here with some of the Antarian physicians in the near future.

“No, General, Doctor; you’re just in time.” Max said and Isabel motioned for someone to come forward.

“Janet, this is Ebron, one of our foremost physicians, whom you will be working with; I thought that the two of you might get to know each other a little tonight.” Isabel introduced them.

Janet tried to surreptitiously glance up and down the tall form of the handsome doctor before her. As she did so, she noticed Ebron doing the same thing to her and they grinned shyly, embarrassed at being caught, but still attracted as they greeted each other. Max saw the exchange and glanced over to his sister in resignation, but Isabel only shrugged her shoulders innocently and Max sighed.

Just then Valaria stepped onto the patio and Max went to greet his mother and draw her over to the group. As he began to introduce her to first the SGC personnel and then the parents, Max wondered how his birth-mother would respond to meeting his adoptive parents.

“…And finally, these are Philip and Diane Evans.” Max introduced them, knowing that he need not give any explanation as to who they were to himself and Isabel.

Jealousy and gratitude warred within Valaria’s heart as she was introduced to the Human couple who had found her children out in the desert, taken them home and then adopted them as their own. But as she looked into Diane Evans’ eyes and saw a mother’s love hiding behind the nervousness, all negative emotions dissolved and she stepped forward with a serene expression on her face and both hands outstretched to grasp Diane’s hand between them.

“It is such a pleasure to meet both of you. Antar owes you a great debt and I have wanted to thank you for taking such great care of my children, all of these years…and making it possible for them to return to us in our hour of need.”

“It wasn’t hard; we love them as our own.” Diane replied simply.

“They’re great kids…all four of them; we’re proud of who they have become.” Philip added.

Valaria smiled at this and everyone subtly relaxed.

“It’s time for us to leave; if you will all follow me, the ceremony will be held in a park nearby.” Max said. “General Hammond, if you would escort our mother?”

“It would be my honor, Your Majesties.” Hammond bowed his head to Max and then to Valaria. “If you would allow me, ma’am?” He asked the Dowager Queen as he proffered his arm for her to take.

“Thank you, General.” Valaria said as she slipped her hand through his arm and allowed him to escort her, a few steps behind her son and future daughter, to the open-air theatre nearby and everyone else processed behind them.

The theater had been built into the side of hill, in the shape of a half-circle. The stage was at the foot of the hill and tiers with benches had been built into the bottom half of the slope. The upper half of the hill was covered in grass and dotted with shade trees and was perfect to seat thousands of extra people, on portable chairs or blankets. As the royal party walked out onto the stage, the thousands of people, whether sitting on benches or blankets, all stood up and started to cheer. Max quickly showed everyone where to sit; their friends and family in reserved seats in the front row, their loves, escorted to their seats by each of the Royal Four. SG-1, Sha’re and the General were shown seats on one side of the small stage, Valaria, Isabel, Michael, Tess and Max took seats on the other, almost facing the guests of honor.

“Thank you everyone, for welcoming our guests of honor so wonderfully!” Max greeted the crowds in Antarian, ignoring the fact that many of the cheers were for him as well as for SG-1, as the hosts translated for their guests. “Before we honor these brave visitors from another world, though, we would like to honor all of you first, because every one of you had a part in our victory over the Goa’uld.” Max said.

As he said this, dozens of men and women came out from back stage; each levitating large bunches of flowers. There were five colors of flowers and each of the Royal Four and Valaria stood to take their place beside a particular colored bundle. The volunteers who had brought out the flowers and who remained to stand nearby and help were already wearing a spray of flowers pinned to their clothing or in their hair.

“First of all we honor the elderly members of our community. They have already fought bravely in many past battles. As they stayed in the shelters with the children, I am told that they each took turns, telling stories and singing songs to help pass the time and brighten the spirits of everyone in the shelters…at this time we would ask that all of you please stand.” Max called out.

As the aged stood, their friends and families around them cheered and clapped for them. At the same time, Valaria and her group of helpers levitated a spray of purple flowers out to each and every person standing.

“Next we honor the children. They have never known violence, war or fear and must have been very frightened and yet every one of our children immediately did what their parents or teachers told them to do and marched quickly and bravely down into the shelters. None of our youngsters was hurt or lost by disobeying the instructions they were given. I know that many of you joined in with the elders of our community when they sang to you. Would all of you children please stand up…stand on the benches if you have to, so that we can see you!” Max instructed.

Everyone clapped and cheered for the children as Isabel and her helpers levitated yellow flowers out to each and every child. Mothers caught flowers for the smallest among them.

“We now honor the care givers, who stayed in the shelters to look after the elderly and the children. Not everyone could take their places in a four-square; our innocent young and honorable elders needed to be protected. We knew that we could count on all of you to care for our loved ones and that you would fight to keep them safe if the enemy got past the four-squares. Would all of you please stand.” Max called out.

The cheers and clapping started again as Tess and her group sent out sprays of flowers with light green and light blue petals on them.

“Next we honor the healers. These brave people not only cared for our sick and elderly in the shelters, or stayed in the hospitals to care for the wounded, many of them were out in the field, among the fighting-squares. But they worked alone or only in pairs, without the protective power of a complete connection, while giving immediate medical attention to the wounded. Would all of the healers please stand.” Max called out.

The cheers were extra loud and enthusiastic as Max himself and his group sent flowers out to these people. The flowers looked quite a bit like poinsettias, a large, red flower with dark green leaves…and yet they were different.

“The last but not least group we honor are the four-squares. These people used their own energies and risked their lives to defend all of us against an enemy we had never seen before and who had advanced weaponry. Would all of you please stand.” Max called out.

Michael and his group sent out flowers with hundreds of tiny burnt-orange petals all up and down the stem as the crowd cheered for them. And then the Royal Four were each surprised when a flower stalk floated down to them as well. After all they had fought in their own four-square along with their people.

“Wow…thank you very much!” Max said humbly as he blushed. “Well now it’s time to honor our guests.” Max motioned to SG-1.

“Sha’re Jackson, you were imprisoned within your own body, but you fought the demon, Amonette and after she was killed you helped us start to understand the Stargate and the Goa’uld. Major General Hammond, you command the SGC; a very impressive and unique military command; I’m sure it’s nothing like any Earth military commander has ever had to face before. And most of all, SG-1; Colonel Jack O'Neill, Major Samantha Carter, Dr. Daniel Jackson and Teal’c…you came through the Stargate to only explore our planet, meet us and to hopefully begin formal relations with us…and ended up saving our entire planet. Would you please stand.”

Max said all of this in English while Michael translated for all of the people. The four-square who had fought beside SG-1 also came up to stand nearby as Max continued.

“You gave valuable intelligence to us on how to fight the Goa’uld, you risked your lives to board the mother-ship along with the four-square made up of Seria, Beneck, Mardall and Tholla and knocked out their formidable defensive shields…And now…you are helping us build a brighter future for Antar and Earth, through mutual sharing of technology, resources and friendship.”

Max had to pause as the crowds started to cheer even louder than before as Seria and the others presented all of their new friends with flower bouquets of their own, made up with all five of the flower types.

“In recognition of everything you have done for us, may I present you with these…” Max continued.

Michael, Isabel and Tess came forward carrying between them five boxes and one by one, Max opened the boxes and presented the gifts to each of the SGC personnel, by pinning them to their uniforms above all of their other medals, or in Daniel’s case, onto his lapel. The medal/pin was a simplified version of the pendant which the Royal Four had given Sha’re on her birthday (and which she was wearing for the occasion); the V-formation of the Antarian region of space. Theirs’ were made up of five golden spheres attached to each other by delicate, clear crystal rods and within the formation, also joined to the rest with crystals was the Antarian symbol for friend.

“…In hope that all of us here will always remain good and loyal friends and that our two worlds may grow in friendship as well.” Max finished.

“Thank you very much, Your Majesty.” Hammond said solemnly after receiving his medal. Max then turned towards his people and called out in Antarian as Seria translated for SG-1.

“My people, let us honor the men and women of Stargate Command!”

All of the crowds stood up from their benches, chairs or blankets and started to clap and cheer. They waived their flowers and Sam could not help but think that this had been one of the most moving and by far the most beautiful award ceremonies she had ever attended, as she looked up at all of the people and the multicolored flower petals which were beginning to float through the air.

“Now…we have a celebration planned in the park up the hill.” Isabel had to raise her voice over the cheering so that the guests of honor, their friends and families could hear her. “Let’s go!”

Seria and the other hosts gathered their guests together and led them up the steps to the top of the hill where a large and beautiful park spread out before them. As the people gathered into groups to chat, a delicious buffet was quickly spread out on tables. SG-1 and their friends were led through the buffet by their hosts who explained what all the different foods were so that they could each make their selections. They all found places to sit on blankets which had been spread out on the ground and tried a little bit of everything on their plates.

“Mmmm, this is so good!” Nancy Parker almost moaned as she took another bite of a purple-colored fruit.

“Mmhm…so is this!” Amy agreed as she ate a thick slice of fresh bread, spread with some sort of green cheese.

They chatted about how beautiful and moving the ceremony had been and all they had seen so far since they had arrived. Their hosts answered many of their questions and they all got to know each other a little bit better. When music started to play, Max stood up.

“Liz, would you like to dance?” He held his hand down to her.

“Sure, I’d love to!” Liz said taking his hand so that Max could pull her to her feet.

Alex, Michael and Kyle soon followed Max’s example as did Jim Valenti, asking Amy DeLuca to partner him. The rest of the group, having finished all of their food, also stood up a few minutes later and wandered over to the large dance floors where dozens of couples were dancing. The young couples from their party had successfully picked up the new dance steps, but Amy and Jim were watching from the sidelines; clapping their hands to the beat of the music. Next came a set of circle, line and square dances. Sam watched the dancers sway, twirl, dip and jump their way around the dance floor and could not keep her feet from tapping the beat.

“Would you like to dance, Major?” Beneck asked, seeing Sam’s enthusiasm.

“Sure, Beneck, that sounds like fun!” Sam agreed.

She took his hand to be led up to the dance floor, but as they waited to take their places in the dance-set, Sam realized she was wearing her tight dress-uniform skirt.

“Rats, I wonder if I’ll be able to dance at all in this thing.” She mumbled.

“Hmmm, yes your skirt is rather…uh…form-fitting, if I may say so, Major.” Beneck agreed, looking down. “I could change it for you, if you’d like.”

“What?” Sam asked.

“Like this.” Beneck said before he waived his glowing hand down across Sam’s skirt, just a few inches separating his skin from the material…and Sam’s legs. “There, how’s that?” He asked.

Sam looked down and was surprised to see that her tight-straight skirt had changed. It was now longer and fuller, but still navy-blue. Her fingers grasped the sides of the skirt and pulled them out to see how full it was now.

“Hey that’s great, now I can really move!” Sam exclaimed happily as she unbuttoned her uniform jacket and then took Beneck’s hand and pulled him onto the dance floor. “Come on, show me the steps…”

Down in the crowd, Jack O'Neill was watching Sam up on the dance floor.

“Hey, what did that Beneck-guy just do to Sam…uh…Major Carter?” He demanded.

“I’m sure Beneck meant only to fix the Major’s skirt as a courtesy, Colonel. True, his actions were a little familiar, but I’m sure he meant no disrespect.” Max, who also had been watching, assured Jack. “Would you like me to speak to him…or as the Major’s superior officer, do you feel that it is your duty to say something to Beneck?” Max asked formally.

“Hmm?...uh…as her superior officer?...oh, uh, no…as her superior…I don’t think that’ll be necessary…” Jack said, but he was thinking…‘as her…friend, I’d like to break a couple of his oh-so thoughtful…glowing…fingers, though…’ “No, let’s not say anything, it looks like the uh…Major…is having fun.” Jack said. ‘Only wish it was me she was dancing with, though.’ He thought silently and then sighed.

Max heard the sigh and glanced over to Isabel who had been listening to the conversation between her brother and the Colonel. An ever-so-slight smug expression gently curved her lips, but she did not say anything before pulling Alex behind her, back towards the dance floor and as he watched them go, it was Max’s turn to sigh.

TBC Feedback Please! I don't know when the next chapter will be up, but I will try and work on it as quickly as I can! Love, jane[/b]

[jane]

Hi everyone, I know this is a short part, but I thought that I'd better post something before yet another week went by. Hope you like it! Love, jane

Stargazers Stargaters Part 29

The day after the awards ceremony was Sunday for the Humans and the friends and parents spent as much time together as possible. That night, everyone would have to return to Roswell, except Jim Valenti, who was retired. The Evans, Parkers, DeLucas and Kyle Valenti had all run out of vacation time from their jobs, but they were determined to return on as many weekends as possible to see their loves, or their children.

SG-1, Sha’re, Janet Fraser, Liz and Alex would be staying on Antar, to learn and to train or would make the easy commute from Earth through the Stargate, each day. Jim Valenti had spoken to both Max and to General Hammond and had received permission to stay as well, to help with training the troops as well as to receive further training in fighting aliens himself. Jim had fought the Skins alongside Max and the others for over a year and his experience would be valuable, even if it was in fighting a different species from the Goa’uld.

For a second night, Jack brooded as he lay in his lonely bed, remembering the sight of Sam laughing and dancing with Beneck. He himself was quite a good dancer; he had, had lots of practice while stationed at the Pentagon, earlier in his career, dancing with the other officers’ wives. But he had resisted the urge to ask Sam to dance, even though most of the dancing being done was harmless square- or line-dancing.

An attraction to Samantha Carter had built up within him over a year ago, until he had to admit to himself, during certain weak moments, that he loved her as a woman, as well as being one of her best friends and respecting her greatly as the officer and brilliant scientist she was, but Jack felt that their situation was hopeless…Even IF Sam actually returned his feelings for her, intimate relations between teammates and or superior and subordinate officers were strictly against the regulations. And although he was not too worried about his own career, he would not do anything to hurt Sam’s impressive record and so he kept his emotional distance from her on missions and tried to protect his own vulnerable heart with a prickly camouflage of grumpiness and sarcastic comments.

Of course it did not help that over the next several weeks, at least once a day, he would walk into a room; living room, storeroom, or garden shed, to find one couple or another kissing, hugging or otherwise making out. This was especially true of Michael and Maria, or Kyle and Tess. Since they were separated from each other during the week, they were determined to make the most of their weekends together.

“Oh for crying out loud, not you two…too!” Jack exclaimed.

He had walked around a stack of shelves in the city’s library, to find Sha’re pressed up against another bank of shelves and Daniel, his hands on each side of her face and his body only an inch away from touching hers, kissing his beloved wife passionately.

“What the…?” Daniel exclaimed as his head whipped around and Sha’re cried out in shock. “Jack what are you doing here, I thought you were working on the design for the new training facility with Michael?”

“I was…hours ago, Daniel; I came looking for you because it’s almost dinner time and even Max didn’t know where you two were. What have you two been up to…besides the obvious?” Jack asked.

“We were working with Mergle…” Daniel said mentioning the interpreter’s name and pointing to a nearby table piled with books. “Hmm…where did he go?”

“I didn’t see a sign of him when I came inside.” Jack said.

“Oh dear, Dan’yel…I hope that we did not offend him when we became…um…distracted…” Sha’re murmured.

“I’m sure Mergle’s okay, Sha’re.” Daniel reassured her. “But I’ll speak to him and apologize.”

Thank you, my Dan’yel.” Sha’re said sweetly as she stroked his beard-shadowed cheek.

“Oh no you don’t!” Jack yelled as he saw their eyes lock onto each other. “Dinner-time, remember?”

“Who needs food?” Daniel murmured but then he snapped out of his daze. “Yeah, right…dinner…okay, Love, we’d better go; I’ll just write a note for the librarian, asking her to leave our books on the table.”

All of the SGC personnel had participated in the process which would allow them to learn and understand Antarian and of course Daniel had excelled in mastering his twenty-sixth language.

“Looks like Merge already did that.” Jack said, pointing to a note perched on top of one of the books.

“Oh…uh…good.” Daniel said as he took Sha’re’s hand, to lead her outside.

On most evenings, SGC personnel ate a simple evening meal with their hosts, but once or twice a week, they gathered at the Royal Manor for a pot-luck or barbeque. During these informal group meals, everyone could report on their individual progress and discuss any problems they were having. It was obvious to everyone at the table that Sam Carter and Beneck were getting on very well and had a lot in common when it came to their work expertise, but Jack O'Neill could not see their relationship in the same benign way that their friends did.

‘If I have to hear Carter say “Beneck and I did this…or Beneck was a great help with that”…one more time!’ Jack exclaimed silently to himself. ‘I’m gonna break something.’

“…and Beneck suggested…” Jack heard Sam say; focusing on only those three words and suddenly the glass in his hand shattered, spraying his fruit smoothie everywhere.

“Colonel!” Sam cried out.

“Jack!” His hostess, Seria exclaimed.

“Are you all right?” Max asked.

A rumble of questions and exclamations circled the table as Max and Sam got up to move closer and see the damage, made by the glass to Jack’s hand. Sam had always been the medic within SG-1, but before she could reach her C.O., Seria had gently taken his hand in both of hers, to see the injury for herself. It was Sam’s turn to become jealous as the other woman tended to the Colonel.

“Max, could you take a look at Jack’s hand, please?” Seria asked her friend and king, after she had carefully levitated all of the glass shards out of his skin and wiped away the blood.

“Hey, it’s not that bad; you could just bandage it.” Jack replied.

“No problem at all, Jack.” Max countered as he took the injured hand in one of his.

Max concentrated as he passed his other glowing hand over Jack’s to make sure that every bit of glass had been removed before healing the cuts.

“There, all done.” He said a moment later.

“Thanks!” Jack replied, flexing the now healed hand.

“You’re welcome.” Max replied before going back to his seat next to Liz and the rest of the evening continued without any further incident.

But, the next night, something would happen which would really set the green-eyed monster; jealousy loose…

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Ohh, I hate it when I do that.” Sam Carter muttered to herself after throwing up, having just reached the guest bathroom in time. “It must have been something I ate…not that I’m blaming your cooking, Beneck; it was very good.”

“Thank you for that, Samantha, but I think you may be correct about your food being what made your stomach upset. Come; let me help you to your bed.”

Beneck took her arm to steady Sam as she rinsed her mouth out with water and then walked her into her bedroom and over to the bed, where he pulled back the sheets and blankets with a sweep of his hand, so that she could sit down.

“Come, let’s get you tucked in.” Beneck said as he lifted Sam’s pajama-covered legs to help her turn around in bed until she was leaning back against the headboard and could pull the bedclothes up around her. “I’ll go make you some tea and be right back.” He said and then left the room.

“Okay, tea sounds nice.” Sam agreed to his departing back as she snuggled into the pillows behind her.

Just a few moments later, Beneck returned with a small tray holding a lovely, small china teapot and matching cup and saucer. He set the tray on the nightstand and then sat on the edge of Sam’s bed to pour the tea.

“This is a special blend of tea, which is very soothing for upset stomachs and I want you to drink all of the tea in the pot, before you go to sleep tonight.” Beneck said as he passed the cut to Sam.

“Mmmm, this does smell nice…is there a little bit of mind in this?” Sam asked.

“If I understand what you mean by the term ‘mint’…uh, no there isn’t any in the tea, but these particular tea leaves do have a slightly minty flavor to them.” Beneck answered.

“So…could you explain what you meant about something I ate upsetting my stomach? I’m just asking in case there’s something I need to avoid in the future.” Sam reassured her host.

“I’m so sorry, Sam…I used a spice tonight when I made the entrée, which a very small percentage of our people are allergic to. But so few people are affected by it and even they do not have as severe a reaction to it as you had tonight, that it did not even occur to me that it would be of any harm to you…I am so sorry, Samantha.” Beneck said sincerely.

“Beneck, it is all right; I am all right…really.” Sam assured him. ‘Really, he’s like a cute, Teddy bear!’ Sam thought to herself as she smiled up at her host.

“If…if you’re sure…I could always call Max to come over…or Colonel O'Neill.” Beneck suggested.

“No need to bother either of them, I’m fine; especially now that I have finished that soothing tea of yours.” Sam said passing Beneck her cup.

“Good…well, maybe you’d better snuggle down into the covers and get a good night’s sleep…the tea will help you with that too; it has a very mild sedative quality to it.” Beneck suggested.

“Thanks, I am sleepy; we’ve been working hard these last few days.” Sam agreed.

“Yes, but it’s certainly been fascinating…” Beneck grinned, more back to his usual self.

“It has been that.” Sam agreed.

Beneck grinned, but before he stood up he leaned over, pushed aside Sam’s bangs and then kissed her on her brow, just as he had done many times to his young nieces and nephews.

“Close your eyes now and go to sleep, Samantha.” He said before turning out the light and then standing up.

Beneck picked up the tea-tray and left the room…

…Outside Beneck’s house, Jack O'Neill was walking home after checking in on Daniel and Sha’re. He knew that it was too late at night to look in on Carter, but he did look over at the first floor window, behind which he believed was her bedroom…And silhouetted across the closed curtains came the familiar shadow of his second-in-command. Yup, that was Sam’s room alright and it looked as though she was getting ready for some shut-eye…except that she was not alone. The shadow of a man was walking closely beside her and Jack could see his silhouette bend down to pull back the sheets on Sam’s bed and help her into it. What in blue-blazes was going on in there? Jack wondered as he felt his blood-pressure start to climb.

The shadow, which Jack assumed to be Beneck’s left the room but returned just a few moments later; he was carrying something, but Jack could not figure out what it was by his shadow. Sam’s shadow was sitting up in bed and leaned forward as Beneck sat down on her bed. The shadows were distorted enough that Jack could not see that Sam was only drinking a cup of tea as he continued to watch. Moments later, though, Sam lay back down in bed and Beneck leaned down towards her…and then…the lights went out!

‘Oh…man, Beneck is kissing Sam…Sam is in bed and Beneck has just leaned down to kiss her…and then he turned out the light…oh man!” Jack thought frantically.



He ran up to the front of Beneck’s house and raised his hand to pound on the door. But his fist was a millimeter away from making contact with the wood, when he stopped himself and pulled back.

‘What am I doing; pounding on the door like some love-sick adolescent? Or like Sam’s outraged C.O….what would Sam think of me if I barged in there right now? Nothing favorable, that’s for sure.’ Jack thought to himself, as he tried to calm down. ‘If…Beneck…is who she wants then…well…she should get him…he seems like a good man and they have so much in common…Hey! But what if he isn’t who Sam wants? What if he’s in there right now…forcing her..?’

Jack drew back his reclenched fist to pound on the door again, but then stopped himself.

‘Who am I kidding? If Sam didn’t want to return Beneck’s…advances, she would have flattened him by now…and if that hadn’t worked, Sam has a great set of lungs on her, she could have screamed this house down around ol’ Beneck’s ears if she had to…’

Jack’s shoulders dropped as he stuffed his hands into his pockets and turned away from the front door.

‘No…Sam can make her own decisions about who she wants…but he had better make her happy; that’s all I’ve gotta say about it…or else he’ll have Colonel Jack O'Neill on his skinny tail so fast he won’t know what hit him.’ Jack thought as he walked back to his accommodations in Seria’s house.


TBC Feedback, plleeaasssse! The more feedback I get, the better the chaces that I will become re-enthused about writing this story...really gettin' tired of it...But I Do want to finish it! ~jane

[jane]

Hi everyone! Thank you so much for your feedback and bumpage! I am sorry that it has taken so long to post this. As KK told you (Thanks for posting the note, KK! And "your stuff" is on its way to you!), I've had bronchitis and trying to breath and get some (any) sleep have been my priorities this last week! But finally, here it is and I hope you think it was worth the wait! Love, jane

Stargazers Stargaters Part 30

The next morning, after Jack mistakenly believed that he had seen Sam and Beneck…um…kissing, until the lights went out, Jack came into the kitchen where his hostess, Seria was sitting drinking cohna; Antar’s version of a caffeinated beverage.

“Good morning, Jack; would you like some cohna?” Seria asked pleasantly.

“Sure, thanks.” Jack replied, but without his usually half-smile.

“Uh oh, someone woke up under the bed this morning.” Seria half-teased.

“Huh? Oh, I think you mean ‘woke up on the wrong side of the bed’.” Jack corrected, but then nodded his agreement with her assessment. “Yeah, I guess I didn’t sleep too well.”

“Is something troubling you? Perhaps I can help.” Seria offered and Jack hesitated before answering.

“Nah, it’ll be okay; nothing a little time off won’t cure…Speaking of which, don’t you guys have weekends on this planet? We’ve been working for nine days straight.” Jack commented.

“Weekends? Oh yes, a week is seven of your Earth days and your custom is to work for five days and then rest for two.” Seria reminded herself.

“Yeah, although I don’t mean to imply that we aren’t willing to work hard or longer than five days at a time…just like we have been doing…I was just wondering if we could maybe take a break today. Hey, do Antarians fish?” Jack asked.

“Well of course we have rest days here on Antar.” Seria answered. “Actually, since our days are longer than Earth’s we usually work only four days in a row before taking one or two days to rest…I guess we haven’t organized our work schedules that well yet, have we?” She apologized.

“No problem.” Jack assured her. “So…do Antarians fish?” He asked again.

“As in taking fish out of the water, so that we can eat them? Of course.” Seria answered, puzzled.

“That sounds like you’re referring to people who catch lots of fish for your entire community.” Jack tried to clarify. “I was talking about taking your fishing pole, some lures, some beer, finding a quiet spot along a riverbank and…you know…fishing.”

“Ahh, I see; yes we do have a few people here in the city who enjoy fishing for the fun of it.” Seria nodded her understanding.

“There ya go.” Jack grinned.

“I have never tried it, but perhaps I could find someone who would wish to go fishing with you.” Seria offered.

“Yeah sure that would be great…and then you could do whatever you like to do, to relax while I’m out of your hair for a while.” Jack agreed.

“Out of my hair?” Seria asked, confused as she ran her fingers through her shoulder-length brown hair. “Oh no, no; I did not mean to imply that I would not be…intrigued…by learning how to fish…I think that might be fun to give a try, but I do not have any of the proper equipment…” Seria told him.

Hey great!” Jack grinned. “As to equipment, do you think we could borrow someone’s? Otherwise I’m sure we could jury-rig something.”

“Let me see what I can find out after breakfast. Seria said.

“Sweet!” Jack agreed.

Two hours later, Seria had made contact with some of the community’s fishermen, but they were all either out fishing, or otherwise unavailable. Jack was undeterred though and managed to MacGyver a couple of fishing poles for them as well as some lures by fan-folding a couple old aluminum gum wrappers. And Seria used her powers to create two hooks.

“Fishing poles, check; lures, check; drinks, check; pick-nick hamper, check. Okay let’s go, I think I even know where we can find a great fishing spot.” Jack said and Seria smiled as they walked out the door.

Half an hour later, the two of them had found a quiet spot on a riverbank not far outside of the city. Jack had shown Seria the basics of how to fish, using their home-made fishing poles and they were both lazily casting their gum-wrapper-lures into the water. Suddenly, Seria felt a pull on her line and she jumped up from her seat on an old log.

“Jack, I think I’ve caught something!” She cried, excitedly.

“Okay, just pull the line in slowly; you don’t want to startle him and make him try to escape the hook.” Jack urged her in a soft voice.

“Oh-ka-y…” Seria whispered as she slowly drew the line in, hand over hand. “Uh oh, it’s starting to fight me.” She groaned and then stepped forward into the shallow water as she fought the struggling fish; the warm water lapping around her bare feet and ankles.

“Easy, easy…” Jack said coming over to help her.

They were both stepping into and then out of the shallows as they tried to pull the fish in, making the footing slippery.

“This must be one big fish; it’s really putting up a fight!” Seria exclaimed.

“Could be…” Jack said as he felt the tug on her line. “If we were on Earth I’d have to warn you that this could be an old mud-filled boot or some other trash…it just doesn’t feel quite…right.” Jack warned.

“No, here it comes!” Seria exclaimed, but then the mud beneath her bare feet gave way and she started to slip. “Jack!” She cried out.

“I’ve got ya!” Jack said, dropping the line and grabbing Seria around the waist, but then the riverbank under his bare feet gave way as well and they both went sliding.

Jack tried to catch his balance and succeeded for a few seconds, but then he lost it again and they both fell headfirst into the river.

“Jack!”

Seria!” They both cried out before they hit the water.

A moment later they both surfaced and tried to stand in the shifting goo of the streambed.

“Here, take my hand.” Jack reached out to Seria.

“Thanks.” Seria said grinning. “Well…I guess…the fish got away…but I’d swear it was this big!” She said while lifting her hands up before her and holding them three feet apart.

“Atta girl; you’ve just passed the first test in becoming a master-fisherman…learning how to tell whopping fish-tales!” Jack grinned back at her.

“Oh you!” Seria giggled and then surreptitiously leaned down to dip her hand in the water…before quickly hitting Jack with a giant splash of water.

“Oh ho, you want to play, do you?” Jack laughed threateningly, before splashing her back.

“Aack!” Seria cried out as water hit her in the face. “I’m going to get you for that, Jack!” But then she cried out in pain.

“What?” Jack yelled, wary that this was a trick, but also worried that Seria had truly hurt herself.

“I stepped into a hole just as I turned towards you, but my foot couldn’t turn with the rest of me.” Seria said through clenched teeth.

“Come on; let me help you to the bank.” Jack said as he came close enough to put his arm around her and help her out of the water.

Seria was breathing quickly, but trying to suppress any sounds of pain.

“We’re not in battle, you know; it is okay to cry out if you need to.” Jack reminded her kindly while respecting her strength.

“It’s, it’s okay…I think it’s just a sprain.” Seria replied as they made their way towards the bank where Jack helped her sit down and then squatted down near her feet.

“Let me take a look.” Jack said as he picked up her foot. “This may hurt, but can you move it?” Jack asked as he gently palpated the joint and tried to move Seria’s foot just a little.

“Ssst!” Seria hissed out between her clenched teeth.

“Okay, sorry; enough with the exam, let’s get you home and then I’ll call Max.” Jack said and Seria nodded.

“Oh, but you don’t need to carry me, Jack; I’m sure I could walk…” Seria argued as Jack bent over to pick her up in his arms.

“No you can’t, so just settle down and let me play the gallant gentleman for once in my misspent life.” Jack told her.

“Oh Colonel, with a request like that, how could any girl refuse!” Seria teased as Jack slowly made his way up the muddy riverbank towards her home.

~*~*~*~*~

Earlier that morning, Sam and Beneck had been glancing over their list of tasks to be completed when Sam realized that she had never retrieved any soil samples for the lab techs back at the SGC, to analyze. So, the two friends decided to make a day of it, by hiking out into the countryside at a comfortable pace, take their samples, eat a pick-nick lunch and perhaps gather some foliage samples on the way back. By mid-morning, they had made their way out of the city and were leisurely hiking beside a stream when they decided to take a break in the shade of what Beneck called a kao tree.

“It is beautiful out here.” Sam said as she squatted down and took a swig from her canteen.

“Nature is an important part of our spirituality and our lives in general.” Beneck agreed as he also drank from his flask.

Just then, the sound of a man and a woman speaking floated to them from upstream.

“Sounds like someone else had the same idea as we did, to get out of the city and enjoy the countryside.” Beneck noted.

But then they heard the voices more distinctly.

“Jack! Seria!”

“Sounds like the Colonel convinced Seria to go fishing with him.” Sam said and tried to smile as she remembered the invitations to go fishing, which she had declined in the past.

Next, a lot of laughter and splashing could be heard; Sam stood up and walked down to the water’s edge before looking upstream, where she spotted them, standing in the dappled shade. They had been playing in the water, splashing each other, but as she watched, Jack’s silhouette paused in the action of scooping up another handful of water and instead, straightened, to walk over to Seria and put his arm around her; holding her close. And from what she could see of their shadowed forms, Seria was returning Jack’s embrace, as she tilted her head up to speak to him. Then slowly, the two people upstream walked towards the bank and out of view…

‘Oh man!’ Sam exclaimed silently to herself. ‘Are they going to..? The Colonel…My Colonel and Seria?’ Sam continued to think to herself as a mist of green jealousy floated up in front of her eyes. She looked over to Beneck who had also walked to the water’s edge and saw a troubled frown mar his forehead. ‘Ah, so he sees it too; their attraction for each other.’ Sam thought sadly, before Beneck interrupted her thoughts.

“Maybe we’d better be heading back, Samantha. Didn’t you say that you were having dinner with Liz and some of the other ladies tonight?”

“Yes I am…yeah; we might as well head on back.” Sam agreed and the two friends started hiking back, but took a different route from Jack and Seria, who were taking the shortest path possible back to the city and help.

An hour later, Sam had showered, changed and rested for a while before heading over to the Royal Manor, where she was to meet up with Liz, Sha’re, Isabel, Tholla, Maria; who was visiting over another weekend and…Seria. Sam frowned to herself as she walked through the gardens; how was she going to handle seeing that woman, this evening? Sam felt that she wanted to scream at Seria…or at Jack, but she knew that she had no one to blame for her situation but herself…and those dammed regulations. But mostly herself; how many times had she turned the Colonel down when he had invited her to go “fishing”, or to attend a hockey game. How many times had she passed over the opportunity to transfer to another SG-team, so that Jack would no longer be her direct superior? Instead, Sam had believed it more important that they remain friends and teammates so that she could at least see Jack every day.

These thoughts and justifications were on her mind as Sam walked up the few steps to the Manor’s patio and saw Max and Liz in a passionate clinch, while sitting on the porch swing made-for-two. She recoiled as if she had been slapped. ‘Oh man, I have the jealousy-thing big-time if I can’t even stand to see my friends, who are madly in love with each other, kissing.’ Sam thought to herself and then looked around her. ‘What do I do now; leave and come back or pretend I didn’t see anything while I make a lot of noise, walking across the patio to the Manor?’ But then the decision was taken out of her hands, when Maria and Michael came out the Manor themselves. Sam had her emotions more under control, so that she was able to smile at the way their hands were clasped tightly together as they walked towards their friends.

“Maxwell, do I have to find a surgeon to physically separate you two, for Pete’s-sake? Come on man, the ladies are starting to arrive and we’ll be late arriving at Mardall and Tholla’s house, for our men’s-night, if we don’t get going now.” Michael gruffly teased his best friend.

“Hey, you two are even worse than we are, by my count.” Max retorted after reluctantly pulling away from Liz to glance up at his friends.

“That’s ‘cause we don’t get to see each other every single day, like you two do, so we have to make the best use our time together when we are!” Maria giggled.

“You’re right, Maria, but what can I say…I’m hooked on Liz’s sweet kisses…and may I never find a cure for my addiction.” Max said as he stood up, but then bent back down to give his fiancé one more lingering kiss.

“See ya later, Pixy-girl.” Michael said as she drew Maria’s hand up, to kiss her knuckles; his eyes never leaving hers’ as he did so.

“Now who’s making us late, Michael?” Max teased his friend before heading off towards Mardall and Tholla’s; the host-couple for Teal’c and Jim Valenti. “Hey, Sam; how was your day?” Max asked her as he and Michael passed by.

“Fine; Beneck and I took a hike out into the countryside.” Sam replied.

“Good, see you later.” Max replied with his gentle smile.

“’Bye.” Sam called after them, before turning back toward the patio and the other women who were gathering there.

The talkativeness of the group allowed Sam to stay in the background where she would not have to say much to Seria, but she was surprised by the way the other woman treated her. She was acting the same towards Sam as she always had; friendly and open. ‘As if’, Sam thought, ‘I am no threat to her relationship with Jack. Or, perhaps she believes that there can be nothing between the two of us because of the regs and wants to stay on friendly terms with Jack’s 2IC. Well, I guess I can act friendly towards her as well, after all, it’s Jack’s decision, not just Seria’s, as to where he wants their…relationship to go.’ Sam reasoned in the end, before tuning back into what the other women around the table were talking about.

“Liz, Maria; I thought for sure that your mothers would be here to eat dinner with us tonight.” Sha’re noted.

“They and Diane Evans have been with the Queen all day long.” Liz answered.

“Again.” Maria added.

“I wonder if we are going to have any input at all into our own weddings.” Isabel pouted.

“We have input.” Liz replied.

“Through our mothers.” Maria added, also pouting

“Yeah, it’s my wedding and I’m a princess for Pete’s-sake, I should be able to have some direct control over what it’s going to be like, when I walk down the aisle in three months.” Isabel reiterated.

“But that’s the point, Isabel; you are a princess and I am marrying a king, while Maria and Kyle are each marrying royal counselors. Your traditions and customs have royal weddings pretty much spelled out.” Liz said calmly. “It’s going to be the biggest ceremony this planet has seen since your parents’ own royal wedding and nothing is going to change that, no matter how much Max and I would rather have a small, private wedding. All of our mothers, on the other hand, have always dreamed of their ‘little girls’ having big, flashy weddings, so they’re perfectly happy to help Valaria carry out her plans. But I trust Mom to make any important changes that Max and I want made.” Liz said before continuing. “And I have enough to do in learning all about your customs and laws; and how to be Max’s queen, without also having to look out for the thousand-and-one details which are going to have to go into planning this group wedding of ours.”

“And besides, Liz; you told me that you and Max had taken your vows years ago, before they had to return to Antar.” Maria piped up.

“Maria, that was private!” Liz exclaimed.

“What; you’re already married?” Isabel cried out as the other women all listened curiously.

“Well…in our hearts and souls we feel as though we are.” Liz explained grudgingly, as her cheeks started to blush. “Before we…made love…for the first time, Max and I drove out to the desert one night and said our own wedding vows to each other and exchanged rings under the stars.”

“You exchanged rings?” Isabel asked. “But I’ve never seen either of you wearing anything on your ring-fingers.”

“That’s because we don’t wear them on our ring-fingers, Isabel.” Liz said holding up her hand. “This is Max’s ring.” Liz pointed out the large silver band which she wore on her left thumb. “And Max is wearing mine…”

“…On his pinky-finger.” Isabel finished for her. “I never really noticed the ring until we arrived here and figured that it was some sort of royal signet-ring.”

“Nope.” Liz shook her head. “After we said our vows, we wore our rings on chains around our necks; more like promise-rings. Since we were only eighteen, we figured that everyone would say that we were too young to marry, so we planned to be properly married after we graduated from college.”

Liz’s eyes filled with tears as she remembered how their plans were so drastically changed just a few days later, when Max and the others had received the urgent call from Antar.

“We exchanged rings again, right before you left and promised to always wear them, so that we’d have a part of each other with us.” Liz said, wiping her eyes.

“Hey…better late than never!” Maria giggled, trying to break the sad mood.

“Yeah, I guess so.” Liz replied, a smile breaking through the tears.

“I’m just curious; what changes have you asked your mother to make, Liz?” Sha’re asked, sharing her husband’s interest in other cultures.

“Well, Antarian wedding colors are pink for the bride and maroon for the groom, but I want to wear a white dress. So I want to have an underskirt of pink and a bodice and overskirt of white. The overskirt would then be drawn to the sides, to show off the pink underskirt. And since custom decrees that I wear these large hoops under my skirt, I thought that this design would look pretty.”

“Sorta like Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty!” Maria piped up with a grin.

“Hey I like that idea, Liz.” Tess said. “I wasn’t looking forward to wearing some great, frothy, pink monstrosity, but if we could all wear white dresses and accent them all a little differently with the expected pink, it wouldn’t look too bad.”

“As to wearing white…um, none of us are exactly virgins, you know.” Isabel whispered; she had liked the idea of wearing pink.

“Um…this is sorta private, but had any of us ever had sex with someone else before our first times with our prospective grooms?” Maria asked and all four young women shook their heads, blushing. “I think that makes us virgins enough to wear white.” Maria said.

There was a bit of tension between Isabel and Maria for a moment, but then Liz broke into it.

“And I was thinking our guys could wear the Antarian wedding outfit, but in white with maroon piping or embroidery, or something like that.”

“Yeah, how about a maroon stripe down the sides of their pant legs? That always looks great on guys; accentuates their long legs.” Tess added and the previous tension was forgotten.

“Good idea, Tess.” Liz said. “Back to changes; I also requested that we take different parts from the traditional Antarian and Earth wedding ceremonies and vows and combine them. And there are actually a lot of similarities, so I don’t think that doing so will be a problem.”

“In some ways it’s a shame we can’t have our weddings on Earth, but if we can make a few changes, I think it will be lovely.” Maria agreed. “That woodland glade you guys use for your religious ceremonies is really beautiful! Michael showed it to me the last time I was here.”

“Yeah, Mom was telling me about the flower garlands they’ve picked out, to hang from the trees and Max has assured me that the fruit trees should be blooming at their peak for our wedding; that’s why it’s being timed this way; that and a particular conjunction of stars.” Liz said, excitedly.

“Wedding ceremonies at this time of year are very beautiful!” Tholla agreed. “Many of our young couples decide to get married now for that very reason.”

The ladies enjoyed the rest of the evening; sharing the various wedding customs of their two peoples.

TBC Feedback please! I am already writing part 31 and hope to post it a lot sooner than this last part! ~jane

[jane]

Hi everyone, I'm so sorry that it has been So Loong since I last posted. I had bronchitis for four weeks...and coughing out your lungs can really wear you down! But I'm feeling better now. Thank you so much for all your well wishes! ~jane

Stargazers Stargaters Part 31

Two weeks after the ladies’ dinner together, Isabel came down to breakfast carrying a sheaf of papers. She fixed a breakfast plate of fruit, a muffin and a cup of cohna from the buffet, set out at the side of the dining room, before coming to sit next to Daniel.

“Good morning, Daniel, Sha’re; hasn’t anyone else come down yet?” Isabel asked.

“Morning, Isabel.” Sha’re answered, while her husband smiled his hello around a mouthful of toast. “No, no one else has come down yet. Will Alex be coming soon?”

“No…he was still asleep, poor thing; he’s been putting in some long hours over the past few days and was exhausted last night.” Isabel answered as her two friends nodded.

“I know he’s been excited about some of the technology your scientists have been showing him.” Daniel agreed after swallowing his mouthful. “Are those the sketches Jacob/Selmac brought you last week?” Daniel asked, indicating the pages Isabel had placed beside her plate.

The Tok’ra had been working on gathering together pictures or sketches of all of the system lords and minor Goa’ulds they knew about. And on the back of each picture was all of the intelligence the Tok’ra had on each Goa’uld; who their allies were and which regions of space they controlled.

“Yeah, I was looking over them yesterday.” Isabel answered. “And something…strange happened last night that I wanted to tell you about.”

“What happened?” Daniel asked, concerned.

“I’ve explained to you my gift for dream-walking.” Isabel reminded them and the couple both nodded. “Well, I didn’t set out to dream-walk any of them when I went to sleep, but somehow I reached this guy during the night.” Isabel showed them one of the sketches.

A cry squeaked out from between Sha’re’s lips and Daniel snatched the drawing out of Isabel’s hands; an incredulous expression on his face.

“You made contact with Klorell?” Daniel asked.

“No…it was Skar’ra!” Isabel said excitedly, knowing that the host of the Goa’uld Klorell was Sha’re’s brother, Ska’ra.

“Ska’ra!” Sha’re exclaimed as she glanced back and forth from Daniel to Isabel.

“You’re sure that it was Ska’ra and not Klorell?” Daniel asked.

“Well, that was the name he gave me and he felt Human…I mean, I would imagine that a parasitic species like the Goa’uld would have a mental signature very different from Humans.” Isabel explained.

“That makes sense.” Daniel conceded. “So…how is he?”

“Well, we were both quite surprised when we made contact and most of our time was spent explaining who each of us were and how such communication was possible, but once he had gained some trust that I was a friend, he begged me to find a way to make contact with you and to tell you that he was holding out against the total control of Klorell’s mind.”

“Thank goodness!” Sha’re sighed. “I know how difficult it is to fight against the mind control of a demon, a-a Goa’uld.” Sha’re corrected herself; remembering her time as the unwilling host to Apophis’ queen, Amonette.

Daniel turned to his beloved wife and drew her to his chest with one strong arm around her shoulders as if to say; “you’re safe now and I’ll never let anything every happen to you again.” Sha’re saw her husband’s unspoken words of assurance in his blue eyes and smiled up at him while rubbing a gentle hand over his chest, to reassure him that she was alright.

“We should tell Jack, Sam and Teal’c about this, but first, do you think you can do that again; contact Ska’ra…or another Goa’uld host?” Daniel asked.

“I think I could reach Ska’ra again.” Isabel answered. “But I don’t know if I would be able to reach different hosts. You told me that Ska’ra was only made a host a year ago, but that many Goa’uld hosts are hundreds, even thousands of years old and have been sustained by using the sarcophagus many, many times…how much of their original personalities could have survived, after all of this time?”

“Hmm, good question.” Daniel replied thoughtfully. “Sha’re, what do you think?”

“I think that most of the host personalities will have been broken by now and have no will of their own. But I have wondered about Lord Yu; he is more thoughtful and less blood-thirsty than most of the demons. I wonder if his host could have anything to do with that.” Sha’re mused.

“Or perhaps the Goa’uld parasite has slight, and I do mean slight, Tok’ra sympathies.” Daniel suggested.

“I do not know, my husband.” Sha’re said.

“Good morning, how’re you Daniel, Sha’re…Izzy?” Alex entered the dining room, walked over to his soul-mate and bent down to kiss her.

“I’m fine honey…but I was hoping that you’d be able to sleep longer.” Isabel replied, after being thoroughly kissed and she stroked a loving hand down Alex’s cheek. “You’ve been working so hard lately.”

“If you wanted me to sleep longer, you should have stayed in bed with me.” Alex whispered into her ear, but then spoke up for everyone to hear. “I’m fine, thanks; what are you guys talking about?”

Isabel told Alex about her dream-walking and he nodded thoughtfully.

“Are you thinking about using Izzy’s gift as some sort of intel-gathering tool or as a weapon of some kind?” Alex asked, concerned.

“It certainly is something to think about. We were going to find Jack, Sam and Teal’c and tell them about it, but there are also a lot of questions which will need to be answered before we can do anything with her gift…that is if Isabel is willing.” Daniel said hastily.

“I-I think so…I guess; as long as the person I contact can’t find out where or who I am. I’d hate to draw Goa’uld attention back to Antar.” Isabel answered.

“Uh oh…Isabel told Ska’ra who she was and presumably where she is…” Isabel nodded at this, her eyes huge. “Will Klorell be able to access Ska’ra’s memory of their conversation?” Alex asked.

“In their arrogance, the Goa’uld believe that they can steal any memory from their host’s mind, but I was able to keep many of my thoughts and memories locked away from my demon. Ska’ra is strong; he will not allow Klorell to learn of his talk with Isabel.” Sha’re said with conviction.

“Morning everyone.” Max said from the doorway; his arm encircling Liz’s shoulders.

“Hey Maxwell, you wanna keep moving? Some of us are actually hungry.” Michael said sarcastically from behind.

“Sorry, Maria, Michael.” Max said as he and Liz moved out of the way.

“Michael!” Maria cried out irritably and slapped his chest, hard.

“What? Ow! What was that for?” Michael whined.

“Just for being you.” Maria said rolling her eyes at her dense fiancé and shrugging her shoulders to the others as if to say “what can I do with him?”

“So…what were the four of you talking about?” Liz said to change the subject as she, Maria and Max took seats at the table and Michael walked directly over to the buffet, to serve himself.

Isabel explained what she had done the night before and Daniel added his hopes for how Isabel’s powers might be used.

“I don’t think any of us know enough about using our powers on other species, except for Humans, to be able to answer your questions, Daniel.” Max said. “But we should certainly tell Jack about this and see what he, Teal’c and Sam think.”

“Teal’c will be at the training area; where he’s been working most of the time, but where do you think we’ll find Sam and Jack today?” Michael asked.

He and the Jaffa had been working together over the past weeks to design a proper training center, where Humans and Antarians could be trained to fight the Goa’uld.

“Jack told me he’d be at the Center today, since he’s been itching to start training the new recruits, even though the facility isn’t completely built yet.” Daniel said.

“Sam told me the same thing, but I’m not sure whether she knows that Jack will be there.” Liz said.

“Yeah…about Sam and Jack…has anyone else noticed how they seem to be keeping their distance from each other and snapping back and forth when they do have to work together?” Daniel asked frowning.

“I’ve noticed that too, but I wasn’t sure whether that was SOP for them or not.” Michael said.

“Uh, no not really…I mean, yeah Jack can get on Sam’s…on all of our nerves sometimes, but Sam has always been militarily polite and proper to him, no matter how aggravated he makes her.” Daniel said.

“Well, let’s head on over to the training area, to tell them what’s happened and maybe we can figure out what’s going on between the two of them.” Isabel said.

“Hey, I’m s’ill eat’n here.” Michael called out around his mouthful of food.

“Oh sorry, Michael.” Alex apologized and then turned to Isabel. “Sweetheart, I think your news can wait long enough for everyone to eat breakfast, don’t you?”

“Well…okay; but don’t take all morning, Michael.” Isabel ordered Michael as Max, Liz and Maria stood up to serve themselves from the buffet.

“Maybe while they’re eating, we could have a private word?” Alex suggested to his love.

“What? Oh, uh, well sure, Alex.” Isabel agreed as Alex stood to pull out her chair for her and then lead her out of the dining room.

“What’s up with those two?” Tess said as she and Kyle walked into the room after their two friends had brushed by them on their way to the living room.

“Mornin’ Tess, Kyle.” Max greeted them around a piece of fruit. “Get some breakfast for yourselves and sit down while we tell you what’s been happening.” And then started to brief them.

Across the hallway, in the living room, Alex closed the door before turning to face Isabel.

“What have you been doing to Jack and Sam? I thought you were going to just make them a little jealous, not lean, mean, fighting machines…towards each other!”

“Calm down, Alex; it’s not as bad as all that.” Isabel soothed. “And actually I haven’t done anything since I set up their housing arrangements; I haven’t needed to.”

“What do you mean?” Alex asked, skeptically.

“I’ve had people watching them and a few things have happened to each of them which apparently the other has seen…but interpreted through the eyes of jealousy. I told you about Sam becoming ill from that spice which Beneck used in a recipe…well Jack saw them…their silhouettes from outside and my…um…informant even agreed that the way their shadows moved together looks provocative.”

“Uh oh.” Alex groaned.

“Yeah, then there was the incident at the river, when Seria sprained her ankle; Sam was downstream…and I was informed that that scene was rather…um…intimate-looking as well.” Isabel finished.

“Yeah, but still…they’ve worked well together for almost two years.” Alex argued.

“That just shows that I was correct and my plan is working! Just one incidence each and they both have turned towards Seria and Beneck, respectively; began to work with them even more closely than before. Which has only made them more jealous of each other over the past two weeks.” Isabel grinned.

“But don’t you think we should tell them the truth before they try to kill each other…or Seria and Beneck?” Alex asked.

“That’s why I’ve had them watched, to make sure they don’t. But you’re right, I think the whole situation is about to come to a head and we’d all better get over to the training area before it does.” Isabel agreed.

They returned to the dining room to find their friends finishing up their breakfasts.

“Have you explained everything to them, Max?” Alex asked his friend.

“Yeah and we’re all ready to go…that is if it’s okay with you, Michael?” Max asked his friend who had risen from his seat, with his eyes on the buffet again.

“Huh? Oh all right.” Michael answered grudgingly; seeing his third helping slipping through his fingers and turned to Maria. “I’m going to have to bring a sandwich with me to bed if we keep burning up so many calories each night.” He teased softly, but everyone heard him anyway and began to laugh at the couple.

“Michael!” Maria exclaimed, slapping her lover on the side of his arm.

“What? Hey, I didn’t tell them what we were burning up calories doing…their assumptions come from their own dirty, little minds.” Michael argued.

“You mean you weren’t making all-out, passionate, multi-orgasmic love to Maria every night as she’s been boasting about for weeks?” Tess asked innocently.

“You’ve been boastin’ about my lovin’?” Michael asked Maria smugly; confirming Tess’ question and setting off another round of laughter from their friends.

“Michael!” Maria groaned as she hid her red face in is chest and held onto his shirt with her fists.

“Hey, when you got it, you got it…and I’ve got you, pixy-girl.” Michael said; equal parts self-satisfaction and gentleness.

“Um…okay let’s go find Jack and Sam.” Daniel said, trying to control his grin at the younger couple’s antics and holding Sha’re close to his side.

Finally, the entire group of friends left the Manor and walked over to the part of town where the training center was in the process of being built.

“There they are.” Michael pointed out. “Looks like Jack is still trying to show the Antarian trainees Earth-style hand-to-hand combat.” Michael shook his head despondently.

“What’s wrong with that? Jack is an excellent training officer and holds top marks in hand-to-hand.” Daniel asked.

“I didn’t mean to say anything against Jack; it’s jut that Antarian combat techniques are so totally different from yours that the trainees are having trouble grasping the concept. Their own training keeps getting in the way.” Michael explained.

“Hmm, I see what you mean.” Max said, surveying the group as once again Jack and Sam put out hands to help their partners, Seria and Beneck, respectively, up off of the mat. “I wonder if our people could better understand Earth martial-arts if they saw it properly demonstrated.”

“Yeah, I was going to suggest that, after seeing the first training session yesterday.” Michael agreed.

Out on the mats, Jack and Sam were having much the same thoughts as they surreptitiously watched each other help their training partners up from the ground.

‘Look at how tenderly Jack helps Seria up from the mat; I thought she was supposed to be a warrior. Jack’s hardly ever helps me up from the ground when I’ve fallen; certainly not without making some sort of smart-alec remark.’ Sam groused to herself, silently. ‘Does he throw her down onto his bed the same way, before he…has sex with her?’

Sam’s imagination took off, fueled by memories of seeing them working so closely…and happily together for the last two weeks.

‘Look at Sam help that wuss, Beneck up off of the ground…again. Man, that guy is worse than Daniel for finding ways to fall down…so Sam will help him up and ask all gentle-like if he’s okay. She acts so much more…feminine around Beneck while with us she always acts as if she’s one of the guys. Not that I’ve ever considered her one, to me, whether she’s wearing camouflage fatigues or her class A uniform, Sam’s all woman in my eyes. But does Sam need a…weaker man to make her feel needed and…wanted? Does her femininity only come out when she’s in her care-giver mode? For crying out loud, I’ll never get her that way; I need a woman who can be my equal, who’s strong enough to fight with me, not be my nurse-maid.’

Jack finished thinking sourly, if silently to himself; his thoughts following a similar jealous path to those of Sam’s.

“Colonel, Major; how’s it going?” Max called out as the group of friends moved towards them.

“Well…everyone’s really…trying…very hard to learn the combat skills we’re teaching them, but I think that we have a translation problem here.” Jack answered, quickly snapping out of his dark thoughts.

“I was wondering if we could demonstrate our techniques to the Antarians.” Sam suggested, interrupting her commanding officer. “If they can see the moves performed correctly while we explain the tradition and theory behind them, I think our Antarian trainees might get a truer picture of what we are trying to teach them.”

“That does sound like a sensible plan.” Max agreed. “Which of you want to come forward and demonstrate these techniques?” Max asked, looking around at the members of SG-1 and the other training officers nearby.

“I’d like to.” Sam volunteered. “My participation can show the women that even a larger, stronger opponent can be brought down using these techniques.”

“Very well, Major. Who would like to partner her?” Michael asked with a sinking feeling in his gut, about who was going to volunteer.

“I will.” Colonel O'Neill all but growled.

TBC Feedback, please! Sorry this was so short, but I felt that I needed to post something at least after so long. Hope you enjoyed it! ~jane

[jane]

Hi everyone, hope you like this, I know it's short and I'm not that great at writing arguements and fights, so I hope this isn't too bad a part. Anyway, here's part 32. ~jane

Part 32

Sam Carter and Jack O'Neill gazed at each other warily after the Colonel had volunteered to demonstrate hand-to-hand combat techniques opposite his second-in-command.

“Do you want to start, Major?” Jack asked and Sam nodded her agreement.

Sam began with a brief history of where the different combat techniques had originated and then she and Jack began to demonstrate each discipline; one move at a time. As the individual, precise moves flowed together into the dance-like exercises, martial arts experts use for private training, Sam and Jack watched each other covertly.

‘Man-oh-man, for an Air Force colonel with bad knees, Jack sure is graceful…and sexy – wow!’ Sam thought to herself. ‘We’ve never practiced combat moves together before…that’s a real shame, ‘cause I’ve been missing quite a show. Jack isn’t muscle-bound like Teal’c, or even quite as buff as Daniel has become, but he still has a well-toned, strong body…from what I can see through his black t-shirt and camouflage pants. Like a proud, mature cougar; seasoned, tough and yet still sleek and in his prime.’

Jack was having much the same thoughts.

‘Boy, I’ve seen Sam…uh…Carter fighting hand-to-hand against our enemies before…And that to-the-death, one-on-one knife fight on Simarka was pretty spectacular to watch…well…in retrospect, After she’d made that old fool of a chieftain submit to her superior fighting skill…But I’ve never seen her go through these basic exercises before. I’ve also never thought that a baggy black t-shirt and camouflage pants could be sexy…but on Sam…wha-ho…they are! Or is it that Sam is just plain sexy, all by herself? Yeah that’s probably it. Watching her now; seeing her delicate hands and wrists flex and bend through the exercise and the rest of her body twist and turn so gracefully through the movements; it’s easy to forget how strong and powerful she is too. How all military she is…although I’ve always been aware of her as a female…’

Jack saw Beneck out in the crowd and almost stumbled.

‘Oh for crying out loud, does Beneck have to stand there, almost drooling over Sam? His eyes following her every move.’

And Sam saw Seria as well.

‘Seria’s eyes have been following Jack’s every move. Man, doesn’t she have any more respect for herself than to stand all googlie-eyed, out in the crowd, almost salivating over my colonel?’ Sam asked herself.

Sam turned in the exercise movements to see Jack execute a perfect jaw-high kick in precise synchronization with her own and almost went googlie-eyed herself.

‘Oh man, he’s magnificent!’ Sam almost grinned at her own thoughts, but was snapped out of them by Jack’s voice.

“Okay, we’ve demonstrated the moves individually and then how they all flow into each other. Now let us show you how we use these movements to fight another person and/or to defend ourselves…Carter.”

Jack and Sam started by showing different types of attacks and how the martial arts movements could be used to react to each attack. They broke each exercise down into slow-motion segments, which they both noticed showed off each other’s muscles, balance and grace even further than before. But as they became more and more attracted to each other in this unexpected show of sweaty sexiness, both Sam and Jack also became more aware of Beneck and Seria’s respective attraction as well. As the two instructors sped up and lengthened their demonstrations, the two hosts’ attentions apparently became more focused, supportive and anxious that a certain someone might be injured as hands and feet flew back and forth at an ever increasing speed.

‘I’ve had it with watching Sam and Beneck getting closer and closer to each other over the last couple of weeks and him drooling over her now.’ Jack growled to himself. ‘We were getting pretty close ourselves; it’s amazing how much you can learn about another person during long, uneventful off-world missions, where it’s just you and your three team-mates. I bet Beneck doesn’t know that Sam will eat an-y-thing with peanut butter on it. Does he know just the right way to massage her feet after hiking fifteen or twenty miles all day? For crying out loud, pal, she’s my second-in-command, My friend, MY Sam!’ The words screamed through Jack’s mind and echoed back and forth inside his skull, but did not make it out past his clenched teeth.

‘Oh man, here comes Seria; up to the front of the group. What; is she afraid that I’ll hurt her poor little Jackie? Yikes, did I just refer to my colonel as “Jackie”? I bet he was never called Jackie or Johnny; even when he was a baby. I bet he was a tough little tyke…cute though…’ Sam thought as she looked over the man with a possessive yet covert glance as she continued to instinctively match Jack, move for move. But her concentration was not total as she kept note of how many times Jack’s eyes glanced towards the crowd…and Seria.

Down in the crowd, Michael and the others quickly realized that the action between the two instructors could no longer be for teaching purposes; it was moving so quickly that only an expert might be able to break down and see the individual moves.

“Do we dare try to break them up?” Maria asked him, she had noticed the glances back and forth between the opponents and two particular people out in the crowd.

“I don’t think we could without getting punched for our efforts.” Michael shook his head.

“If it is…um…jealousy which is fueling those two, maybe we should remove the source of contention; Seria and Beneck, as well as the others.” Alex suggested, glancing to Isabel.

“I think you’re right, Alex.” Max agreed before he and the others began to quietly herd the trainees away from their instructors, but Seria and Beneck were reluctant to go.

“We have to stop them, Max!” Beneck exclaimed anxiously. “He’s hurting Samantha.”

“Hah! I think it’s your girlfriend who’s laying down the damage, Beneck.” Seria retorted.

“Sam…my girlfriend? She’s not…you’re just worried about Your boyfriend, Jack.” Beneck shot back, making the eight friends glance back and forth between each other…Beneck…and Seria? Who would have guessed?

“Okay you two; you need to come away from here so you can discuss…your feelings…or whatever, in private.” Max said urgently. “Your arguing is only escalating the situation between Sam and Jack.”

“But…” Beneck and Seria protested at the same time.

“Come, now.” Max said more firmly and the two followed the six friends, who had herded everyone else away from the practice area. “Make sure everyone stays away.” Max ordered Michael. “Liz and I will stay nearby to make sure that Sam and Jack don’t kill each other.”

“Oh-kay.” Michael said reluctantly before following his King’s orders.

Back in the practice area, Sam had heard Beneck’s angry words, but only the words and not the inflection; “you’re just worried about your boyfriend, Jack.”

And Jack had heard Seria’s words as well; “I think it’s your girlfriend who’s laying down the damage, Beneck.”

Max had been correct, Seria’s and Beneck’s words would escalate the emotionally combustible situation between Sam and Jack because he had not moved the two Antarians away before they had the chance to open their mouths. Having their beliefs seemingly confirmed for them, both combatants struck out even harder, but physical expressions of their hurt and anger was no longer enough and they…finally…started to speak.

“What does she have that I don’t?” Sam cried out, while jumping to miss a leg Jack stuck out to trip her.

“Huh? What are you talking about? I’m the one who should be getting an answer from you to that question.” Jack yelled back, blocking a fist aimed at this throat.

“I’ve been your loyal 2IC, your best friend for nearly two years, why did you turn away from me…to Her?” Sam ignored Jack’s questions, but subconsciously stored it away in her mind.

“Why’d you turn to Him?” Jack countered. “We were best friends, but I always wished we could be…more.” Jack admitted, but said the last part so softly that Sam almost missed it as she blocked a kick to her kneecap.

“I didn’t turn to anyone…SIR! You’re the one who went splish-splashy-fishing with Seria.” Sam yelled.

“Only after I saw you go to bed with Beneck!” Jacked yelled; exasperated and hurt.

“What? I never…were you Watching me?” Sam asked reproachfully, her anger, which had begun to ease, heating up again.

As if…I’m no Peeping-Tom. I was just gonna drop by and see how you were doing, as I walked home from the Manor.” Jack explained but kept his attacks going. “And I got an eye-full from the sidewalk, out front of Beneck’s place.”

“But, but nothing’s ever happened between us…” Sam admitted but then continued. “Unlike you and Seria;…carrying her in your arms and all.”

“She sprained her ankle!” Jack retorted finally catching hold of one of Sam’s fists before it could plow into his face.

And at the same time, Sam caught hold of his other wrist, but they continued to try kicking and tripping each other.

“I’m not the one who’s been spending every waking…and hor-i-zontal moment with Beneck-boy!” Jack accused.

“No, you’re ‘doing it’ with Seria-pee-ah.” Sam yelled back.

And finally, what Sam was accusing him of, sunk into Jack’s brain.

“NO I AM NOT, Sam!” He yelled and then moderated his voice just a bit. “Nothing at all has been happening between me and Seria. Yes, I enjoy working with her and she has become a friend, but that is all.”

Sam’s brain was also just now accepting what Jack had said as well.

“Well, neither am I, Jack! It’s just like you said; Beneck and I are friends and we work well together.” Sam admitted. “And, if what you say is true; that Seria sprained her ankle that day at the river…”

“It is true.” Jack shot back, still belligerent.

“Oh-kay…then I’ll accept that if you will accept the fact that the only time Beneck has stepped foot inside my bedroom…and what you probably saw…was when I got sick on something I ate and threw up. Beneck helped me to bed and brought me a pot of tea to soothe my stomach…”

They had stopped fighting some time between Jack and Sam’s explanations and now they just stood gazing warily at one another while their heart rates slowed down.

“So…then…what have we been fighting about?” Jack asked, confused and still hurting.

“I – I thought you were falling in love with Seria and it hurt so much because…Iloveyousomuch.” Sam said softly; running the last part together.

She was so exhausted from fighting and emotionally hurting that she had no more strength to hold in her emotions or hold the tears back from falling down her cheeks. Jack felt equally tired and emotionally dejected as well, but managed to hold back all but one, lone tear, which dripped its way down his lean cheek.

“I felt the same way about you and Beneck because…I…Iloveyoutoo…way more than I should.” Jack admitted.

All of a sudden, two pairs of hands began to softly clap together as Max and Liz walked over to their friends from their safe positions several yards away from the practice area.

“Finally, you both admit to each other…and to yourselves, for that matter…what the rest of us have known for a couple of weeks now!” Max said, grinning.

“You have?” Sam asked, blushing at Liz and Max.

“Hey, where’d everybody go?” Jack asked, only just noticing that they were totally alone, except for Max and Liz.

“We thought that you two needed some privacy to…hash out your problems together.” Liz explained gently. “By the way, we believe that Seria and Beneck are finally having much the same discussion with each other as you two just had.”

“What? Really?” Sam and Jack asked together.

If it was true, that Beneck and Seria were actually in love with each other; that would put the final kibosh on Sam and Jack’s jealousy.

“Yup!” Max grinned.

“You two seem awfully smug about all this.” Jack said irritably and then turned to face Sam and take one of her hands in his. “Sam…I may have finally admitted what I feel for you…and you for me…which I can hardly believe, but it…it is still against regulations for us to do anything about it.”

“I – I know, Jack.” Sam nodded sadly, but giving his hand a light squeeze.

“Uh…not here on Antar it isn’t.” Max said. “Our culture encourages people to be honest about how they feel towards the people in their lives (so why Seria and Beneck got into the mess they did, I’ll never know!). And our four-squares are mostly made up of two men and two women because that combination of male and female is much more powerful than just four people of the same sex, working or fighting together, would be.” Max paused and then continued.

“While we were growing up on Earth, I heard news stories about sex-scandals in the military…’don’t ask, don’t tell’, or some cover-up of a female soldier being assaulted by male soldiers. Here on Antar the respectful treatment of all people is simply second-nature to us and if anyone does break that fundamental rule, he or she is swiftly and appropriately punished. Covering up such actions is not tolerated. So I say again, while you two and the rest of your people are here on Antar, you are bound by our laws.” Max finished; glancing between Sam and Jack meaningfully.

“Of course we are, but we are also still under General Hammond’s command.” Sam corrected. “That’s why we’ve been returning to Earth for a few hours every few days; to brief him about our progress…as well as handling our e-mail and paperwork.”

“Rats, I was afraid that you’d insist on seeing it that way.” Max said, frowning.

“That doesn’t change the fact that they now both know how the other one feels; that’s a big step.” Liz said. “And you two are going to have to find a way to handle your feelings, no matter what happens after this.”

“I get what you’re saying, Liz.” Max said, grinning. “Why don’t you two show us…prove to us how well…how professionally you can still work together, no matter what the situation. And in private…or I should say, when you’re off duty…because I don’t want you to have to sneak around or hide your feelings…as King of Antar, I give you permission to…get to know each other, on a more personal level. Not so much…uh…sex…although that’s totally up to and between the two of you…but the process of being a couple, rather than just team-mates…alright?”

Jack and Sam glanced at each other shyly.

‘Jack O'Neill shy; will wonders never cease?” Max thought, but was pleased that this new relationship of theirs was important enough to them for Sam and Jack to be a little uncertain about it as they turned back to himself and Liz.

“Okay…we’ll try that.” Sam said and Jack nodded as he reached out to take her hand and rub his thumb over her soft skin.

“Well, we’ll leave you…uh…to it for now then.” Max said as he also took Liz’s hand in his and drew her away from the older couple.

“Good luck!” Liz called back…

TBC Feedback please!

[jane]

Stargazers/Stargaters Part 33

Disclaimer: I am using some of the dialogue from the “Stargate” episode “The Curse”, which does not belong to me. This story is being written just for fun with no copyright infringement or dishonor intended to anyone.

http://www.gateworld.net/sg1/s4/413.shtml is a URL to a good summary about this episode if you are interested.

Author’s Note: After a little Sam-Jack time together, this chapter is going to ease into a Daniel-oriented side-story. The timing for this segue fits in very well with the rest of this story and I have been dieing to write this for quite some time now; he, he, he! What I am doing is pulling the storyline from the episode entitled “the Curse” forward a couple of years and giving it a more satisfactory ending; I think you’ll like it; at least I hope so! So sit back and enjoy…

Stargazers/Stargaters Part 33 “The Curse, Cured” Part 1


After their surprising and enlightening conversation with Max and Liz, Sam and Jack hiked out of the city, hand in hand and up a little ways into the hills. And when they found a large boulder, the two of them climbed up onto it and sat down, closely together.

“This is nice…Jack.” Sam said shyly, catching herself before she could call him ‘sir’.

Jack’s right hand was lying on his thigh and Sam tentatively reached out to take it, panicked and was pulling it back when Jack’s hand turned over and grasped her fingers in his.

“Yes, ‘this’ is…nice.” Jack agreed gruffly. “And I’m not talking about the wildflowers.”

“No…” Sam agreed, blushing as she found herself staring deeply into Jack’s soft brown eyes.

And then those brown eyes were moving closer and her eyelids closed and Sam’s focus switched from Jack’s eyes to his lips as they gently brushed over hers and then withdrew. A sound of distress slipped past her lips as she felt the loss of his kiss. Sam instinctively moved forward in search of that warm caress and this time her lips found Jack’s, lower lip and drew it in between hers. This time Jack was the one who made a sound in his throat, but his was a moan of satisfaction, bordering on passion as his mouth played with Sam’s; as they discovered each other’s taste, scent and touch in the press of their lips.

“Mmm, I’ve wanted to do that ever since Daniel told us about the alternate-universe Jack and Samantha who were actually engaged to each other.” Sam murmured softly as they leaned back a little from each other.

“Me too; that story of Daniel’s certainly planted a seed in my imagination.” Jack agreed.

“But all you said at the time was that it would be against regulations for the two of us to do anything like that.” Sam almost pouted.

“Yeah, well that was as much a reminder to myself as to you.” Jack agreed, and then reminded her. “And anyway all you could say was how alternate universes or realities were against all of the laws of physics.”

“Well, I may have been incorrect about the physics, but you weren’t wrong about all of this being against the regs.” Sam reminded them both sadly, letting go of the hand she had been holding.

It broke her heart, but Sam was determined to get everything out into the open before she could invest any more of her emotions in this dream of being with Jack. He nodded in agreement; Jack also knew that they needed to discuss all of this before they went any further.

“While General Hammond and I were discussing your promotion to Major, I also wondered if it would be best if you were given the command of your own SG-team.” Jack said.

“I don’t know if I could have accepted the command if you had offered it to me, Jack.” Sam admitted. “To be kept from seeing you, working with you each day would have made me miserable.”

“Yeah, those were my main reasons for not offering you the command, besides the fact that you’re the best damn 2IC I’ve ever had!” Jack chuckled and Sam blushed at his gruff compliment. “And whenever I started to fantasize about…um…dating you, I realized that just giving you your own command within the SGC would still not allow me to fraternize with you. As the SGC’s second-in-command, under General Hammond, I’d still be your superior officer and you would still be under my command…and out of my reach.”

“Yeah the only way for this to work would be for me to totally leave the SGC; transfer to a completely different command, which I just cannot bring myself to do.” Sam agreed sadly.

“Or I could try retiring…again.” Jack added.

“No you couldn’t, not now when we have a real chance of stopping the Goa’uld.” Sam reminded him.

“Yeah, you’re right.” Jack agreed.

“There is one other way I could try, but I really don’t want to…” Sam said. “I could resign my commission in the Air Force and just become a civilian consultant.” Sam almost shuddered at the prospect.

“You couldn’t do that any more than I could retire, Sam.” Jack agreed. “You’d never be allowed to pilot any Air Force aircraft again if you did and someone might insist that you not be allowed off-world anymore. Being able to date me wouldn’t be worth all that.” Jack finished in a rare show of modesty.

“I don’t know…it might be…but I would rather try and find another way first, if we can.” Sam said slyly but then whacked Jack on his arm when he started to puff his pride back up after her compliment. “Oh you!” Sam laughed, but Jack just gave her his innocent-little-me look.

“You know though, to every rule there is a loop-hole and this regulation does have one, or so I’ve heard.” Jack said thoughtfully a moment later.

“There is? I’ve never heard of one.” Sam said.

“It’s not well known, I guess.” Jack said. “The idea is that one of the interested parties in the relationship gets themselves temporarily transferred to another command for several months. And while under someone else’s command, the couple could um…uh…get married. The regulations do not pertain to previously existing marriages, so when the one person returns to their previous command, it’s too late…although neither could be the true CO of the other; as in giving their subordinate his or her yearly evaluation or handle any other administrative/personnel duties like that.”

“Yeah, I guess that would work.” Sam nodded. “But being separated from you for four to six months isn’t something I’m ready to sacrifice yet either…And we’re no way near ready to get married…if…um…if that is your intent.” Sam qualified and blushed when Jack reached over to pick up both of her hands in his.

“First of all, I want you to understand that marriage to you is my ultimate goal. But the second thing you need to know is that I’m not in…too much…of a rush to reach that point right away. I know that there’s a lot we need to learn about each other before we can get there, but we will get there…reach the alter.” Jack said decisively.

“Uh, that’s good to know, because my intensions towards you are honorable as well.” Sam grinned.

“But neither of our intensions precludes kissing each other right now, right here.” Jack said already gathering her back into his arms…

“No they don’t.” Sam agreed as she allowed herself to be drawn back into the warmth of Jack’s arms, his lips and his love…

…Sometime later, after a very satisfactory…um…make-out session up in the hills, Jack and Sam walked back down to Beneck’s home, where Jack was going to drop off Sam before going to find Teal’c and discuss the training schedule with him…But instead, they found an envelope with Sam’s name on it, pinned to the front door instead.

“Dear Sam,

Congratulations on your discovery of the mutual attraction which you and Jack hold for each other. I’d like to say ‘what took you two so long?’ but Seria and I are hardly in the position to say anything, because it’s taken us even longer to realize our own love for each other!

In light of our great discovery –grin- Seria has invited me to move into her home and I have accepted…we packed up all of Jack’s things and moved them over to my house, where the two of you are welcome to stay for the rest of your visit here on Antar. Please let us know if you have any problems operating the appliances, as I’ve shown you how to do…otherwise…have fun you two!

Your friend, Beneck.

P.S. We didn’t unpack Jack’s things because we weren’t sure whether to put them in your room or the guestroom! -wink-“

“Those two…little stinkers and…” Sam started to exclaim, but Jack interrupted her.

“…And good friends.” Jack said grinning. “But they do have a good point, which bedroom do you want me to unpack my socks in, Sam?”

“Hey, that’s not just my decision, we should make it together.” Sam hedged. “I…want…to be with you…but…”

“But?” Jack asked, not helping at all.

“But…are we ready to take that step?”

“What do you think?” Jack asked again, deadpan.

“Oooh, you’re doing it again, Jack! What do You want? I-I want…oh how I want…to be with you, but I think it’s…too soon.” Sam rushed on to say, but then squeezed her eyes shut while waiting for Jack’s opinion.

“I…think you’re right, Sam; it is too early for us to take…that step. But you’d better lock your door at night because…I want you too…way more than I should…” Jack warned and Sam gave him a beautiful big grin.

“Lock my door? Hey buddy, it’s your door that better be locked at night…and barricaded…unless…you want a little midnight make-out session tonight!” Sam bragged and Jack pretended to surrender; backing up with his hands up in the air.

“I’ll lock mine, if you’ll lock yours…Samantha.” Jack said in a low, sexy voice Sam had never heard him use before…before he gave her a quick peck on the cheek and then brushed by her and stepped into Beneck’s house to go and unpack his socks in the guest room.

~*~*~*~

Two days later, Daniel and Sha’re finished packing their packs and strapped them shut before taking them and leaving their room in the Royal Manor and walking downstairs. As they passed Michael and Maria’s room, they could hear the couple inside arguing; and knowing that their fights could lead either to blows or a bout of lovemaking, Daniel and Sha’re scurried on by, grinning.

“Pixie-girl it’s not time to get up yet.” Michael complained.

“Ohh Michael don’t do this to me, you know I don’t want to leave our bed, but I have an early session with Coria this morning, remember? I told you about it yesterday.”

Michael didn’t answer but instead tried to drag Maria back into his arms.

“Michael -kiss- you know that -kiss- I’m doing this -kiss- for us -kiss- trying to make a life -kiss- for myself here -kiss- so that I can -kiss- honor your people -kiss- learn more about them -kiss- and fit in here -kiss- once we’re -kiss- married.” Maria reminded him in between kisses.

“Ohh –kiss- arrggh!” Michael groaned loudly in frustration.

He knew that what Maria was saying was true. Once they were married, it would not be safe or practical for them to live on Earth, but at first Maria had not known what she could do to keep herself occupied during the day while Michael was out covering his duties as Max’s Second-in-Command.

She and her mother had been running their alien-themed gift-shop together for ten years and Amy DeLuca had always planned on Maria taking over when she retired. Now her daughter would be unable to do that; the government had decreed that the trading and/or selling of Earth jewelry and other touristy-type goods to Antarians and vice-versa to Humans would not be worth the security risk that someone might figure out where the “alien-trinkets” were really coming from.

So, mother and daughter had decided to sell their store and their house; once Maria was married in two and a half months; Amy was going to buy a small motor-home and travel and Maria had decided to follow one of her girl-hood dreams…She had become fascinated with Antarian music, especially their ballads; story-songs. And to that end she had begun to train under one of Antar’s best ballad-singers, Coria, during the three days a week she visited Michael. She loved it and Coria believed that she was training one of Antar’s future stars.

As Daniel and Sha’re came downstairs they saw a group of people gathering in the living room and wandered over.

“Morning Isabel, Tess.” Daniel said as he snagged a pastry from a table near the doorway which was set up with all sorts of breakfast treats for the attendees of the meeting. “Oh yeah, today was the day a bunch of your best dream-walkers and mind-warpers were going to get together and discuss your plans for defeating the Goa’uld. Wow, I wish I could stay to listen in, but Sha’re and I really have to go.”

“I understand; have a wonderful trip seeing your father again, Sha’re.” Isabel hugged her friends briefly. “And don’t worry; Sam will be coming over soon to sit in on the meeting in your place.”

“Oh, um good.” Daniel said.

Just then, Alex and Kyle came down the stairs and over to their respective lady-loves for a “good-bye, I’ll-see-you-later” kiss. Alex was off as always, after snagging a muffin for himself, to work with some of the Antarian scientists, while Kyle was about to leave to work one more day with the mechanics and engineers who designed and maintained the hover-craft, before he would need to return to Earth for the rest of the week.

He and Tess had discussed at great length what he was going to do with his life once they were married. Kyle owned and managed six gas stations and garages in and around Roswell. They had several options before them and a final decision had not yet been made. Tess could go to live on Earth with him; perhaps get a college education and then a job in an area of interest…and only commute back to Antar as a Royal Counselor once or twice a month. Kyle, on the other hand loved to “tinker” with car engines and had little time to do that anymore with his managerial duties and business decisions to make at each of his garages. Most people would see Kyle as a very successful young man, but he realized that even with all of his financial success…he was not very happy.

But ever since he had first ridden in a hover-craft, Kyle had become fascinated with the craft and wanted to learn all he could about them. So, his and Tess’ most likely decision would be for him to cut back on his businesses; three of his chief mechanics would like to buy their respective garages from Kyle and then he could probably find buyers for the other three soon after they were married.

With his business responsibilities on Earth taken care of, Kyle could move permanently to Antar, but visit his father back home in Roswell as often as they liked. His best wish was to learn how to design, build and maintain hover-craft; there were only a few left after the civil war, but Kyle figured that more would be built with the help from Earth and he wanted to get in on the business from the beginning. Kyle dreamed about owning several hover-craft garages in and around the Capital and of spending his days “tinkering” with their innards to his heart’s content.

“See you guys in a few days.” Daniel softly called out to the two couples who were still kissing and then turned away to walk across the hallway to the dining room where he knew he’d most likely find Max and Liz.

When he opened the door to the dining room he found the sweet scene of Max just placing a plate, heaping with food in front of Liz while she was reaching up an arm to encircle his neck and bring his lips down to hers for a kiss.

“Excuse me, I don’t mean to interrupt, but…” Daniel cleared his throat and then said to gently break their concentration on each other.

“Oh Hi Daniel, Sha’re.” Liz greeted them with a smile as she and her lover broke apart reluctantly.

“Just wanted to tell you that we’re off.” Daniel said grinning.

“Have a great trip and a wonderful time seeing your father again, Sha’re.” Liz said reaching up to hug her friend who had walked around the table to return the hug.

“We will, I can hardly wait to see my father!” Sha’re exclaimed.

“Good luck going over those points we spoke of together, with your council, Max.” Daniel told the young king and friend.

Max and Daniel were almost through mapping out the first draft of the Earth-Antarian treaty. They had been working on it whenever Max’s schedule allowed and Daniel worked with the interpreter, Mergle on translating the writing in the Stargate chamber whenever Max was unavailable.

“Thanks, I’m sure it will go well.” Max said confidently.

“Great! Well, we should be back in a few days.” Daniel said again before he and Sha’re left their two friends and hiked over to the practice area where the instructors, Sam, Jack and Teal’c among them, were having greater success training their Antarian students in Earth combat styles.

Daniel grinned as he watched Sam and Jack working with two different recruits, on opposite sides of the group from each other; they looked professional and focused, but Daniel was able to detect their brief glances back and forth over the distance anyway. The two of them had gone about their duties as always, but with none of the tension between them and Seria and Beneck, which had been building for weeks. And as Max had ordered, they were spending much of their off-duty time together talking a great deal and getting to know each other on a private level. Daniel’s grin broadened as he remembered the two times already when he had caught them kissing sweetly. But he and everyone else were happy to see them walking here and there hand in hand; obviously in love.

The instructors finished what they were working on, called a short break and then Sam, Jack and Teal’c came over to where they stood.

“So…today’s the big day, huh?” Jack asked Daniel

“Yup, it’s been a year and a day since we were last on Abydos. Today’s the one day when they will uncover their Stargate; our one chance for me to take Sha’re home to her father, Kasuf.” Daniel agreed.

“I wish we could come with you, but we’re finally starting to make some progress with these recruits, I don’t want to break the momentum now.” Jack said regretfully.

“We understand that, Jack.” Daniel said.

“Tell Kasuf that we haven’t given up on getting Ska’ra back; in fact we have more reason to be hopeful now.” Jack said.

“I’ll tell him.” Daniel assured his friend, shaking his hand, kissing Sam on the cheek and bowing slightly to Teal’c. “See you in a couple of days.”

“’Bye, Daniel, Sha’re.” Sam called out as the couple turned and walked away from them, towards the hover-craft which would take them up the hill to the Stargate chamber.

As Daniel and Sha’re stepped out on the other side, into the SGC’s Gateroom, they saw General Hammond waiting to greet them at the foot of the ramp.

“Welcome back, Dr. Jackson, Mrs. Jackson.” He said smiling at the young couple.

“Thank you, General; how’re things going here?” Daniel asked.

“Rather well; SG-6 should be returning in a couple of hours with some artifacts which you and your department will no doubt be very interested in taking a look at.” The General answered.

“Hey great!” Daniel said. “I’ll take a look at them as soon as Sha’re and I return from our trip to Abydos, but I’m sure the others can begin a preliminary analysis for you.”

“Of course, Doctor, today’s the big day. When did you propose to leave for Abydos?” Hammond asked.

“Well, uh…Abydos is several hours behind us, so it’s still night there for a couple of hours. I thought I’d check my messages and anything urgently requiring my attention and then we’d leave in three hours if that’s alright?” Daniel asked.

“That’ll be fine, Doctor.” The General said before the couple left him to go to Daniel’s office.

“Home sweet home.” Daniel said as they entered his office and dropped their packs on the floor.

“My home is wherever you are, my Dan’yel, but if I must choose between this office and the apartment, I would choose our apartment.” Sha’re said.

“I know you’d like to go to the apartment, my heart, but we only have three hours before we have to leave again and between the time it would take to drive there and then drive back, I’m afraid we’d have very little time to actually be there…” Daniel explained.

“I know, Dan’yel…it is alright.” Sha’re smiled softly up at her handsome husband.

Daniel was trapped in her loving gaze for a moment but then made himself break free.

“Um, uh, good…uh…I keep my Abydonian robes here in the office and the seamstress who made your new set dropped them off while I was here last time, so they’re here too and I figured we could change in here rather than going to the locker-room.” Daniel finally managed to get the point out.

“Very well, do you want to change right now?” Sha’re asked and as she did so, she began to pull up her dress in order to pull it off over her head.

“Um, uh, actually…” Daniel stopped Sha’re from lifting her dress up any further than she already had and made her drop the material back down to hide her lovely legs. “I thought we’d just slip the robes on over the clothing we’re already wearing. But if you want to completely change, you’ll need to go to the locker-room after all because remember there is a security camera up there.” Daniel pointed up to one of the corners of the ceiling and silently cursed it and the security personnel on the other end of the electrical cord.

“Oh.” Sha’re said disappointed that she could not carry out the seduction she had planned to play on her husband, to pass away the time until they were to leave for Abydos. Instead, looking straight up into the camera for a moment, she pulled Daniel to her until their bodies were pressed together, linked her arms tightly around his neck and then transferred her attention back to his face, especially to his lips before stretching up to passionately kiss him.

Daniel realized that he was being well and truly claimed by his wife…for anyone in the Security Office to see…and gossip about…and he was in equal parts turned on, incredibly pleased and…mortified at the new material they were supplying the rumor-mill with. But the turn-on and pleasure outweighed the mortification and he gathered his incredible wife into his arms, drawing her even more closely to his body and concentrated on returning her drugging kisses with ones of his own.

Ten floors up, the Security Office echoed with wolf-whistles and laughter as two male and one female security officers watched their favorite archeologist thoroughly kiss his lovely wife. Several minutes later, back down in Daniel’s office, the couple broke apart a little and gasped for air. Daniel licked his lips, savoring Sha’re’s sweet taste as his heart rate began to slow down a little.

“My heart…that kiss was…incredible!” He told her softly, deep blue eyes still linked with chocolate-brown ones.

“Mmmm yes.” Sha’re agreed happily, almost smugly.

“I love you.” Daniel also whispered, kissing her quickly one more time before slowly disengaging himself from Sha’re’s arms. “And I don’t want to have to do this but…Sha’re, I really need to work at my desk for a while; check my messages and my e-mail.” Daniel said.

“My Dan’yel?” Sha’re asked sorrowfully, hoping to make her husband forget about stupid things like e-mail.

“Pl-ea-se, Sha’re don’t do that to me…I really need to do this, it’s important.” Daniel all but begged.

“Ohh…all right.” Sha’re conceded and let Daniel go. “Are you hungry? I could go to the cafeteria and get us some food.” She offered.

“And some coffee?” Daniel wheedled with a sweet smile.

continued in next post

[jane]

continued from above

“Of course, coffee.” Sha’re chuckled.

“That would be great! Thank you.” Daniel said, quickly kissing Sha’re on her smooth brow.

“I will be right back.” Sha’re said before leaving.

Daniel sat down and booted up his computer and while it was warming up, he checked over the half-dozen phone messages which had been placed on his desk. By the time his computer was up and his e-mail account opened, Daniel had determined that all of the phone messages could wait and began to weed through the dozens…and dozens of e-mail messages. He was on several archeology list-serves, anonymously and nearly half of his unopened mail consisted of chatter from them.

“Let’s see…junk, junk, later, later, more junk, delete all of those…what’s this?” Daniel clicked on a listing entitled “Famous archeologist in critical condition!”

The e-mail opened…”Dr. David Jordon of the University of Chicago was critically injured when his office somehow exploded this morning. Dr. Jordon was rushed to the University Hospital and is listed in critical condition…indeed it is feared that he will not survive. The Police believe that a gas leak may have caused the explosion but the investigation is still only one day old…”

“Oh no! Oh man! No, no! Dr. Jordon…” Daniel exclaimed in horror and paced around his office for a few minutes before returning to his computer. “’Only one day old?’ When was this posted? Oh man, only half an hour ago; boy, someone moved fast! Maybe to give friends and former students a chance to go see him…if they don’t think he’s going to make it…Former students, friends…I Need to go see him…if this is my last chance to see the Professor…” Daniel muttered to himself.

Daniel was still mumbling to himself and running his hands through his hair when Sha’re came back into the office, carrying a tray of food. But when she saw her husband, she quickly set the tray down and ran over and knelt down in front of him.

“Dan’yel are you alright? What’s wrong, my husband?” Sha’re cried out when she saw the anguished look on his face.

“Sha’re…I just found out that Dr. Jordon…my teacher, my mentor…has been in a terrible accident and may be dying. I-I need to go and try to see him, if I can, before it’s too late!” Daniel ran his hands through his hair again and Sha’re saw a tear trickle down his face. “I need to tell him that I’m sorry…”

“Sorry for what, my Dan’yel?” Sha’re asked gently.

“Sorry for…disappointed him, embarrassing him. I was his top student, almost his…protégé…that means I was in line to take his place at the University, sometime in the future, when he retired. He…he was like a father to me…and when I started to publish my theories about the pyramids being so much older than everyone thinks they are and that they were landing places for alien spacecraft…”

“And you were correct, my Dan’yel…the demons do use the pyramids to land…” Sha’re tried to sooth.

“Yes, I Know that now, but no one else does, even now…and three years ago the entire archeological community thought I was nuts, crazy. Even Dr. Jordon didn’t believe me, but he stood by me anyway; risked his reputation and even his career to do so…That’s why I haven’t gone back to see him since I returned from Abydos…my presence there would only be an embarrassment to him.” Daniel said sadly.

“But now we must go and see this most important man, my husband, before it is too late. We will go and tell General Hammond and he will get one of his mighty birds to carry us to your Dr. Jordon.” Sha’re said decisively grabbing Daniel’s hand and pulling him out of his office.

“But, but…I just remembered…I can’t go right now; we’re leaving for Abydos in just a couple of hours…” Daniel said as they entered the elevator, his shoulders slumping.

“My father…” Sha’re said; yearning in her voice, but then turned to her husband with love in her eyes. “We can go through the Chapa’ai to Abydos in a few days.” She said.

“No…remember, Sha’re, this is the only day that your people will remove the cover-seal from over the Chapa’ai. We must go today or they will bury the Stargate forever.” Daniel said running his hands through his hair in agitation. “Maybe I’ll be able to make Dr. Jordon’s funeral…since he isn’t…supposed to live…” Daniel turned away from Sha’re and wiped the tears from his eyes.

“No, Dan’yel it is too important for you to see your mentor before he goes to join the god. You must lighten the burdens he carries in his heart as well as in your own.” Sha’re said briskly. “We will ask the General; he is most wise and will surely know what to do.”

“I-I guess…” Daniel agreed softly as they exited the elevator and walked down the hall to General Hammond’s office.

When Sha’re and Daniel reached the office and were told to enter, Sha’re started right in with her story of their troubles; she was too afraid that her Dan’yel would back out without admitting his dilemma to his superior.

“Well, Mrs. Jackson, I can see that you and your husband do have a problem indeed. Why don’t we compromise; Dr. Jackson, you and your wife will leave for Abydos as soon as possible. I’m sure they’ve removed the cover-seal already, but we’ll send a probe through first, just to be sure. You will then escort Mrs. Jackson to her father, Kasuf and…uh…son, Shifu, and then return to the SGC where I will have a car waiting to take you to the airbase, where your flight to Chicago will be prepped and ready to take off.” The General said firmly.

“What? Um, General, are you sure? That’s very generous of you, but…” Daniel started to ramble, totally shocked.

“How many times have you saved this planet from the Goa’uld, Doctor?” The General asked rhetorically. “I think that earns you a seat on the fasted military flight I can get you.”

“Thank, thank you very much, sir.” Daniel said and Sha’re grinned happily before tugging her husband out of the office so that they could go and get changed and grab their gear.

When they returned to the Control Room, Abydos had already been dialed and the MALP was slowly rolling up the ramp. It disappeared through the event-horizon and everyone waited to see if it made it safely to Abydos.

“Receiving MALP telemetry now, sir.” An airman called out. The General, Daniel and Sha’re moved over to look at the computer screen and saw the inside of the Abydonian pyramid but no people were in sight.

“I bet the militia is hiding behind those pillars.” Daniel said and moved to speak into a microphone. “This is Daniel Jackson, son-in-law to Kasuf. I wish to step through the Chapa’ai with my wife and Kasuf’s daughter, Sha’re, who has been freed from her demon-tormentor.” Daniel spoke in ancient Egyptian and his message was relayed to the MALP.

All of a sudden, dozens of young men and women, some of them carrying automatic weapons, came rushing out from behind the columns, laughing, dancing and clapping for joy.

“I guess that’s their way of telling you to come through.” General Hammond said with a smile. “You have a go, Doctor.”

“Thank you, General.” Daniel grinned and this time he grabbed Sha’re and led her down the circular stairs to the Gateroom.

The General watched from above as the young couple walked up the ramp, hand in hand and stepped through the Stargate. When Daniel and Sha’re arrived on the other side of the wormhole, they were immediately mobbed by dozens of people who were laughing and crying for joy at the safe return of their good friends, Sha’re and Dan’yel.

It was still dark out when the newly returned couple and several of their friends stepped out of the pyramid and started to hike across the desert to the home of Sha’re’s father, Kasuf. One year ago, Apophis had brought a very pregnant Sha’re/Amonette back to her home planet so that he could keep the secret of this child from the other System Lords and his enemies. For this child, a boy, whom Sha’re would name Shifu, was not a normal child, but a harcisis; the product of two Goa’uld parents. Such unions were forbidden among the Goa’uld because the child would carry within its DNA all the secrets of the parasitic species…and the possibility of their destruction. Never the less, Apophis’ plan for this child was to use him as his new host, once the boy had grown up.

Daniel found out about Sha’re’s pregnancy when he had returned to Abydos one year after he’d left, to assure Kasuf that he would continue to search for Sha’re. Instead he had found her already there in her father’s home, ready to give birth and temporarily free of her Goa’uld mistress as the symbiote had needed to go to sleep in order for the child to be safely carried to term. Sha’re went into labor and Daniel had delivered the baby, but before he, Sha’re and Teal’c could escape back to Earth, another Goa’uld named Heru-ur had come looking for the child.

As soon as the baby was born, Amonette had awoken, but Teal’c and Daniel were able to fool her into believing that Heru-ur had taken her child while at the same time making Heru-ur believe that Amonette had the baby. When in fact, Daniel gave Shifu to his grandfather, Kasuf; who with a servant-woman went into hiding, out in the desert of Abydos, until it was safe to return to their home.

Now, Sha’re was returning to Abydos to see her father and her son…but not Daniel’s child. If it had been safe to keep him, Daniel knew that he would have loved the boy and raised him as his own for Sha’re’s sake. But it would not be safe, not even on Earth. Too many government agencies would want to get their hands on the baby. And then there were the Tok’ra and the other Goa’uld as well to worry about. Daniel and Sha’re had discussed what to do at great length and after much heartache had decided to follow through with Amonett’s plan to take the boy to the legendary planet of Kheb, where it was believed that he would be safe from all of his enemies. Amonette had known vaguely where the planet was, but did not know the complete coordinates, so for now Sha’re would come to visit her son on Abydos and the SGC would continue to look for Kheb.

Finally, Sha’re and Daniel made it to the home of Kasuf and were welcomed with much joy and celebration. With help from Sha’re, Daniel explained the situation to her father and was able to leave the party just over two hours later…without dishonoring his father-in-law. With a promise to return as soon as possible and a passionate kiss to Sha’re, Daniel left the village and returned to the Stargate.

Once back at the SGC, Daniel shed his desert robes for a tweed blazer and was hustled up to the car; General Hammond had waiting for him, as promised. The flight to Chicago was fast, but Daniel noticed little of it as they flew east. He let his mind drift back to his college days with Dr. David Jordon; some of the happiest times of his life…until he had met and married Sha’re. He remembered also his old girlfriend, Sarah Gardner…and how their relationship had ended badly…and he remembered Stephen Raynar; another student of Dr. Jordon’s, along with himself and Sarah. But Stephen and Daniel had never been friends; Stephen had always been too jealous of Daniel for that to happen, although Daniel had rarely noticed Stephen’s attitude towards him, back then.

And now he would have to see both Sarah and Stephen if he was to be allowed to see Dr. Jordon at all…Since he had returned from Abydos, Daniel had kept tabs on all three of them through the scientific journals and knew that both of his old colleagues now had professorships of their own at the University, and were Dr. Jordon’s research assistants as well.

Daniel came out of his deep thoughts and memories only when the pilot announced that they were about to land.
And once he had deplaned, carried his one, beat-up old suitcase to the rental car counter, picked up the car which General Hammond had arranged for him to have while he was in Chicago and took off towards the University Hospital. He figured that he could check into his hotel later, if he was not run out of town on a rail, first.

At the hospital, Sarah Gardner and Stephen Raynar had stepped out into the hallway, outside of Dr. Jordon’s room to talk. Stephen had already been there, sitting with his mentor for half an hour and was about to leave, while Sarah was just arriving to take her turn. Sarah was pretty; tall and slim with shoulder-length curly blond hair and Stephen was quite handsome; tall, of medium build, with black hair and both of them were in their thirties, like Daniel.

The intensive care unit was designed with a nursing station in the middle with the glass-enclosed patient rooms circling around it, so that each patient could be easily monitored. Therefore, both colleagues saw Daniel as he came walking down the hallway and up to the nurse’s station. And even Stephen had to admit to himself that there was quite a change in his former colleague. Daniel had always been polite to everyone he came into contact with and they could hear enough of his conversation with the nursing staff to tell that that had not changed, but his posture had; and Stephen recognized the old blazer that Daniel was wearing, but instead of being baggy on his frame, it was now stretched across his broad shoulders and muscular back. Daniel’s hands were in his pants’ pockets; a nervous mannerism Stephen well remembered, but there was also a coiled intensity in his straight back, which was new. And, Stephen noticed, Daniel’s slight college-cafeteria-belly was gone; a ripple of abdominal muscles noticeable beneath his shirt.

“My goodness, wherever Daniel’s been all this time, it certainly has agreed with him.” Sarah said after conducting her own inspection of her old boyfriend.

“What-the-hell-is-he-doing-here?” Stephen asked in a vicious, yet soft voice at the same time.

“Stephen!” Sarah reproved him in her sweet English accent. “You know he cared about the Professor; of course Daniel would come if he could.” She said, but then fell silent as Daniel, the object of their comments turned to walk in their direction.

“The Prodigal Son returns.” Stephen ground out and Daniel looked up, noticing them for the first time.

“Stephen?” He asked and then saw who stood beside him. “Sarah!”

“Daniel!” Sarah greeted him with a gentle smile and they moved in for a hug. “It’s good to see you.”

“Yeah, despite the circumstances.” Daniel said as they broke apart and walked over to sit on a bench against the wall; Stephen standing, almost hulking over them. “So, uh, what exactly happened to him?” Daniel asked, nodding his head in the direction of Dr. Jordon’s hospital room.

“According to the Police, there was a slow leak in the lab, something must have caused a spark and the whole thing went up. If the Professor had been in the room, they fear that he would have been killed instantly, but they think that he must have been just leaving the lab, or was in the hallway when it blew and he was rescued pretty quickly. But even so, he’s in critical condition and…not expected to…live.” Stephen said and Daniel nodded sadly.

“We would have called you, but no one knew where to find you.” Sarah said apologetically.

“That’s okay.” Daniel told her gently.

“I’m so glad you’re here.” Sarah said, touching one of his hands as it rested on his knee.

“So, how long has it been?” Stephen butted into the conversation. “Two years?”

“Almost three.” Daniel admitted.

“What have you been up to?” Stephen all but demanded.

“Uh…I’ve been busy.” Daniel said casually, yet evasively.

“Really?” Sarah asked surprised. “I’ve looked for signs of you out on the fringes, but there’ve been no papers, no research projects. It’s a like you fell of the face of the Earth.”

“Yeah it’s a little like that isn’t it?” Daniel admitted without giving anything else away.

“As I recall, the last time I saw you, you were giving a lecture to an empty room.” Stephen said smugly.

“Uh, well the room was full when I started.” Daniel said sheepishly.

“Well maybe the world wasn’t ready to hear that the pyramids were built by aliens…or was it men from Atlantis?” Stephen bent down to say; only inches from Daniel’s face.

“Stephen please.” Sarah reproved and he straightened up.

“Yes, Stephen; please.” Daniel repeated almost goading him into continuing.

“Why did you come back? You’ve managed to stay away all this time. If you’re looking for forgiveness, you’re probably too late; the man is dying and most likely won’t ever wake up again.” Stephen bit out before turning on his heal and striding quickly down the hallway.

“Always a pleasure, Stephen.” Daniel called after his retreating back.

“Sorry about that.” Sarah apologized. “He’s not usually that bad, but this has been hard on him.”

“I know, it’s okay; I’m sure it’s been hard on you too…on all of us.” Daniel said. “And with that in mind, is it okay if I go in and sit with the Professor?”

“Of course you may go see him, Daniel; come, I’ll take you in.” Sarah said as she took one of his hands and drew him up off of the bench and into Dr. Jordon’s room.

Even though he had prepared himself, Daniel was still shocked by the appearance of the man in the bed. His face had little more color in it than the white sheets which covered him and he had aged much more than three years could account for. Daniel then checked over the readings on all of the monitors surrounding the bed. He had learned what they all were for and how to read them during his many stays in the SGC Infirmary.

“Wow, I can see why everyone’s so worried about his chances for recovery.” Daniel said sadly as he turned back to Sarah.

“You know what all those lines and blips mean? When did you become a doctor of medicine?” Sarah asked half shocked, half teasing.

“Of course I’ve not become a medical doctor in a mere three years, but I have had occasion to learn some advanced first-aid and some other medical basics.” Daniel admitted remembering the wonder he had felt the times he had even delivered two babies, while off-world.

“And will you tell me where you were when you gained all of this knowledge?” Sarah asked.

“I’m…sorry, I…can’t do that, Sarah. And right now if you don’t mind, I’d really like to sit here with Dr. Jordon for a few minutes.” Daniel said gently.

“Of course.” Sarah almost pouted, but stepped outside of the room anyway. “I’ll just wait out here for you, but take your time, Daniel.”

“Um, thanks.” Daniel murmured as he was turning back to the man in the bed.

Daniel sat down in a chair which had been drawn up close to the bed and took Dr. Jordon’s hand in his.

“Hi, it’s me; Daniel. I hope you don’t mind my being here; I just felt as though I had to come when I heard about your accident. Stephen’s angry but I think it’ll be okay, eventually.” Daniel paused to think for a moment and then continued. “I – I just needed to say that I’m sorry…Sorry for disappointing you…Sorry for leaving and not coming back or even writing to you before this…And now I’m afraid that it’s too late…I can tell you how I feel and ask for your forgiveness but you can’t lighten your heart by telling me how you feel…or grant me your pardon…I don’t even know if you’d want to…or whether you’d tell me to go to hell if you could…Man, I’d give almost anything if we could have just one more conversation together, catch up with what we’ve been doing…” Daniel sighed sadly, but then brightened.

“I got married almost three years ago! Her name is Sha’re and I know that she’d love to have met you…she needed to go visit her father right now, or I would have brought her with me. She’s beautiful and kind and oh so patient with me! I love her so much…” Daniel sighed again. “Well, I’d better go…” He stood up but continued to hold the limp hand in his own. “Hey…try to fight this okay? Try to come back to us if you can…But if you’re too tired to fight I guess it’ll be okay…I know all about being so tired that you can hardly fight the urge to give up, believe me…You will go onto somewhere better than this place, but we’ll…we will all miss you…a lot. I’d better go.” Daniel repeated, trying to keep the tears back. He gently squeezed the hand he had been holding and then placed it back on the sheet before turning and walking out of the room.

‘Where is a Goa’uld sarcophagus or a healing-device when you need one?’ Daniel asked himself sadly.

As Daniel’s footsteps faded down the hallway, Dr. David Jordon let himself slip back into unconsciousness, where there was no pain; only peace and rest. He had managed to surface partway out of the gray void when he had heard a voice which he had not heard in years. Could it really be Daniel Jackson, the boy who he had thought of as a son? Yes it was! And even though Professor Jordon’s consciousness had faded in and out as Daniel spoke to him, he had picked up on some key points; Daniel’s worry for him and his being sorry for what had happened years before, Daniel’s joy in his wife, what had he said her name was, Sha’re? And Daniel’s wish that he, David Jordon would fight to survive; to heal and live…And at that very moment, Dr. Jordon decided to himself that he would do just that. But to achieve that end, he would need rest…

Daniel found Sarah waiting for him, sitting on a bench several yards down the hallway from Professor Jordon’s room.

“Are you alright, Daniel?” Sarah asked, concerned.

“I’ve been better, but I’ll be okay.” Daniel answered gently and managed to give her a sad smile.

“You know what I think we both need? A good cup of coffee.” Sarah suggested. “Why don’t I drive us over the Bean Grinder and we can talk more comfortably there?”

“Coffee? I’d love some.” Daniel said perking up a little. “But I have a rental, why don’t I meet you there?...Um, uh, but aren’t you going to go in and see the Professor?”

“I saw him this morning already; I can come back later tonight.” Sarah assured Daniel.

“Well, uh, okay then; I’ll meet you there.” Daniel agreed.

Both old friends arrived at the campus coffee-house, one right after the other and walked inside together. Once they had been led to a booth, made their request and received their coffee, Daniel and Sarah relaxed back in there seats with sighs of relief as some of the tension and worry they had been feeling eased just a little bit with the invigorating smell of the coffee.

“You know…Stephen was right, I should have come back before all of this…but…I was afraid that I wouldn’t be welcome.” Daniel said, sighing again and taking a healthy swallow of his coffee.

“Are you joking?” Sarah asked, shocked. “Even after everything that happened, Dr. Jordon never thought any less of you. You were his best student.”

“Who made a fool of himself in front of the entire archeological community.” Daniel countered self-depreciatingly.

“He kept hoping you’d find proof, something that would shut everyone up.” Sarah said.

“No, he thought I was nuts.” Daniel said honestly.

“That’s not true, why do you think it’s so hard for Stephen to see you here? He’s always been in your shadow, even after you left.” Sarah said.

“I hear his book is on the best seller’s list.” Daniel said, to prove to them both how little Stephen had to worry about any competition from him.

“I know…he’s getting a Porsche!” Sarah admitted, grinning.

“Ow!” Daniel yelped playfully.

“Look, I have to admit, I thought you didn’t come back because of me.” Sarah changed the subject to something she had been dying to get out in the open.

“No that’s not it.” Daniel denied.

“We could have ended it better than we did.” Sarah continued.

“Maybe…” Daniel said, not really wanting to get into that right then. “The truth is I got caught up in something incredible…”

“You found something didn’t you?” Sarah asked excitedly. “Something to support your theory? Tell me!” She begged but Daniel stayed silent. “Oh come on!”

“I…can’t.” Daniel said.

“Daniel.” Sarah said in a reproving tone and he shook his head in frustration of having opened his mouth in the first place.

“Okay, let’s just say that what the world knows about ancient Egypt barely scratches the surface. The truth is more…incredible than anyone imagines!” Daniel said with wonder in his voice.

“Now that’s the Daniel I remember!” Sarah said approvingly, but then looked at her watch and was shocked at the time. “Rats, I have a meeting to get to in twenty minutes…Daniel; will you come by the office tomorrow morning? There’s something I really want to show you.”

“Sure, I’d love to see what you’ve been working on.” Daniel said enthusiastically. “Ten o’clock okay?”

“That’ll be great, see you then; I have to run.” Sarah said, throwing some money to pay for their drinks on the table, leaning down to kiss Daniel on the cheek and then hurrying out of the shop.

TBC Feedback, please! Oh Please! I have wanted to write this story for so long, I hope you all like it! Love, jane

[jane]

Hi everyone, finally here's the next installment in Daniel's Chicago adventure (don't worry, there IS a little bit o' Sam/Jack action in here too!). What I can't believe is that I haven't finished this yet! This is 20 pages-worth (long hand) and I have the same amount waiting to be typed up...and I still have not quite finished! I am bound and determined to finish it with the next installment, no matter how Long it is, so I'll be posting again soon, okay? Anyway, hope you all enjoy and on with the show!

Stargazers Stargaters Part 34

Disclaimer: I am using some of the dialogue from the “Stargate” episode “The Curse”, which does not belong to me. This story is being written just for fun with no copyright infringement or dishonor intended to anyone.

The Curse, Cured Part 2

After Sarah left the Bean Grinder, Daniel finished his excellent cup of coffee, paid the bill and then left as well. He spent the evening driving around town, remembering the years he had lived in Chicago during college, as well as his years as Dr. Jordon’s research assistant. He made a few stops at some of his old haunts but found them changed; or, he wondered was he the one who had changed so much in just three years? But finally he made his way over to his hotel, checked in and collapsed on the bed fully-clothed; it had been a long and emotionally draining day.

At ten o’clock the next morning, Daniel met Sarah at the front door to the building in which Dr. Jordon’s office was located and she took him upstairs. As Sarah let them into the room, Daniel looked around; not much had changed. It was a large room; crowded, floor to ceiling bookshelves ran along the wall to his left, Dr. Jordon’s desk was still in the corner, next to the windows which stretched across the upper half of the out wall in front of him. And a very large table with three inch raised sides stood in the middle of the floor, covered with Egyptian artifacts of all sorts.

“Wow…all of this stuff is…great.” Daniel said looking around. ‘Although I’ve seen better specimens on a dozen different worlds.’ He thought to himself.

“Yes, aren’t’ they great?” Sarah asked happily. “We just received them about a week ago.” Her expression saddened. “But he Egyptian government has already made a formal request for their return. We’ve been working as hard as possible to learn as much as we can before they are taken away.”

“These are from the Stewart Expedition?” Daniel asked; he had been looking over the artifacts and recognized a few of them from a few articles he had read over the years.

“Yes…you know the story of course.” She said, but continued anyway. “The expedition uncovered all of these in 1913 but it was rumored to be cursed after all of the team members died within a year of the dig. And then the ship which was transporting all of these artifacts to the U.S. sunk off the shore of New Jersey. They only just found the wreck last month and all of these artifacts were still in their shipping crates and were brought to the museum.”

“Well, um, if you’d like, I could help you catalogue this stuff.” Daniel offered. “I want to stay at least a few more days, until Dr. Jordon’s condition is…clearer.”

“Sure, we’d love the help.” Sarah agreed but she was distracted as she searched for something on the table.

“What?” Daniel asked.

“There’s something missing.” Sarah said, rechecking everywhere she had already looked.

“You’re sure?” Daniel asked.

“Positive; a gold amulet of Osiris…it must be here somewhere…” She muttered but then looked up. “Daniel, I must find it.”

“I’ll help you.” Daniel said starting to search around the room.

Sarah glanced over at Daniel and smiled faintly, even as she continued to search.

“I was sorry that we couldn’t have dinner together last night; there’s so much time to catch up on.” She said and Daniel winced.

There was so little he could tell Sarah about what he had been up to over the past three years…and one important piece of news he should have told her yesterday as soon as they had hugged hello.

Yeah…about that…um, uh, there’s something I should have told you yesterday.” Daniel said haltingly.

“Oh, what’s that?” Sarah asked interested but still distracted.

“I’m um, uh…married.” Daniel said out of the blue.

That got Sarah’s attention and she stopped what she was doing completely and turned towards Daniel.

“Married?” She cried out.

“Um, uh, yes.” Daniel said uncomfortably, but then he gained some strength by remembering how much he loved his wife and grinned. “Her name is Sha’re and we’ve been married for almost three years.”

“Almost three…years?” Sarah gasped. “So you knew her before that seminar in L.A?”

“Uh no…we met after I…left…” Daniel said looking down at his shoes.

“But if you’ve been married for almost three…what was it, a case of love at first sight?” Sarah asked scornfully, unsuccessful at hiding her jealousy.

“Well sort of…you see…her father gave her to me…as a – a gift. But she was gorgeous, sweet and smart and we hit it off almost right away…even before I understood that her tribe considered us husband and wife.” Daniel chuckled to himself.

“So where is this wife of yours…still with her…tribe? Does she even speak English?” Sarah asked unkindly.

“Um, uh, yes, Sha’re is visiting her father right now; she hasn’t been able to return to her home for um…quite some time…and she missed him.” Daniel answered as truthfully as he could, but then anger crept into his voice as he answered Sarah’s accusation. “And of course Sha’re can speak English…I taught her and she picked it up incredibly fast, she’s very bright.”

“Of course, I’m sure she is.” Sarah tried to calm down. “I’m sorry, Daniel; it was just such a shock…you’re being married and everything…I had been hoping…that we…” She trailed off, unable to finish what she had been about to say; watching Daniel as his shoulders slumped in embarrassment.

“Uh, no…I’m afraid that couldn’t happen again between us, even if Sha’re and I…I can’t stay here…I only came back because of Dr. Jordon.” Daniel explained in his soft, gentle voice.

“Yes…of course.” Sarah said forcing a smile. “Well, I can’t find the amulet in here. I’m going to go check a few other places…” She looked over at Daniel hesitantly. “If your offer of help still stands…” Daniel nodded. “Why don’t you start working on examining these pieces?” She pointed out several. “And I’ll be back in just a little bit…uh…you remember that the kitchenette is just down the hall if you want some coffee.”

“I remember.” Daniel said; he had found a pad of paper and pencil and was already focusing on the first artifact.

“Okay then…” Sarah said but when Daniel did not look up at her, she sighed and left the room.

Some time later, Sarah returned, but Daniel looked up only long enough to see her dejected expression before returning to his work. Sarah found her own pad of paper and began working as well. As they progressed, she showed Daniel how the computer was set up for recording their findings and he nodded, typing away.

“You weren’t nearly so adept at using a computer three years ago.” Sarah noted.

“Yes…well I’ve been working with someone who is very adept…as you put it and she’s taught me a lot.” Daniel said smiling as he remembered Sam showing him the ins and outs of computers.

Sarah opened her mouth as if to say something, but then closed it, shook her head and went back to work. They spent the day that way; taking notes on an artifact and then recording their findings on the computer and from time to time Daniel walked down to the kitchenette and brought back a cup of coffee for himself and tea for Sarah.

“How is it that you seem to know so much more about all of this stuff than you did three years ago, Daniel?” Sarah asked. “You’re even correcting my pronunciation of the Egyptian symbols. How can you be so sure of how they pronounced everything thousands of years ago? No one speaks this anymore.”

‘Because Sha’re and Ska’ra taught me, that’s how.’ Daniel thought to himself but only smiled benignly up at Sarah.

Sarah, remembering that smile from earlier questions she had asked Daniel…and received no answers to, groaned in exasperation.

“It’s like hitting a brick wall with you sometimes, Daniel!” She exclaimed.

‘That’s what Jack says too.’ Daniel thought silently, but went back to work.

Around one o’clock, Stephen came by the office to have lunch with Sarah, but when he saw Daniel he threw the deli sandwiches he had bought them, to Sarah and stomped back out, slamming the door behind him. Daniel was concerned about Stephen’s attitude but knew that there was very little he could do to change it and so shrugged and accepted the bag Sarah handed to him and opened it.

“Hey, pastrami; I haven’t had any good pastrami in ages!” Daniel exclaimed.

“Yeah, there’s nothing like Martinelli’s deli.” Sarah agreed. “But you should have been able to find some pastrami somewhere. Where have you been for the past three years, under a rock?” Sarah threw back, but Daniel had just taken a huge bite of his sandwich and could only smile around the food in his mouth.

‘You’re getting close!’ He thought to himself. ‘But Cheyenne Mountain is a little larger than a rock.’

The two of them made good progress through the afternoon until Sarah had to leave, to teach the one class she had scheduled that day. They said goodbye; Daniel saying that he would work for a little while longer before he went to visit Dr. Jordon and promised to lock up before he did so. Daniel was as good as his word; working for a little over an hour and then he had an idea. Of the places she had checked, Sarah had not mentioned the basement where artifacts were stored and the university museum’s Curator worked. He finished the piece he was working on, closed down the computer and locked the door behind him on the way out. He found the Curator in her office and introduced himself. She seemed happy to be pulled away from whatever she had been working on and led him down to the huge storeroom.

“Sorry about the mess, you know how it is, budget-cuts…I’m trying to sort things out, but there’s never enough time.” The Curator said. She was a short, middle aged black woman who bustled quickly before Daniel’s long-legged strides.

“I understand.” Daniel said gently.

“Now what was it you were looking for?” She asked.

“Um, uh, an artifact which went missing from the Stewart Expedition.” Daniel said.

“The Isis jar.” The Curator said, instantly.

Daniel looked with interest at the woman, but then returned to the subject at hand.

“Um, no…an, uh…gold amulet with ebony…” Daniel checked the paperwork he had brought with him. ‘Um it was numbered 14C.”

“That was sent up to Dr. Jordon with the rest of the artifacts; I can show you the paperwork…” The Curator said efficiently.

“Um, uh, no that won’t be necessary.” Daniel said believing her but then his curiosity came to the fore. “What’s this about an Isis jar?”

“It’s over here.” The Curator said, heading off down the rows of shelves until she came to the one she needed. “The crate was marked incorrectly; I just found this the other day.” She said, unsuccessfully trying to reach for an object on the top shelf.

“Uh, this one?” Daniel asked, pointing to a canopic jar he could easily see from his extra foot of height above the small woman.

“Yeah.” The Curator said and Daniel brought it down and looked at it.

The object was a white ceramic bottle, but where the neck should be, a woman’s face and head was fashioned on top instead. She had a headdress on, with the representations of the crescent and full moons sticking out on top; the crescent was on its side, cupping the full moon. A wide Egyptian collar circled her neck; covering her shoulders as well and a sash hung down the middle of her robe, which comprised the body of the bottle.

“It has this extra set of markings.” The Curator pointed out the symbols which ran along the large collar. “No one’s ever seen markings like that, have you?” She asked.

“Actually, I have.” Daniel answered and then turned to the woman beside him. “I’m going to need to do a translation.” He told her and she nodded in acceptance.

“Alright, if you need me, I’ll be in my office cataloguing the Polynesian death-masks.” She told him amiably and shuffled off.

Daniel took a closer look at the markings, to make sure that he was not mistaken as to what they were, looked around to make curtain that no one was nearby and then brought out his cell-phone. He pressed the speed-dial for the SGC’s base operator and waited for him to come online.

“Yes, this is Dr. Daniel Jackson; I need to speak to General Hammond right away…Hi General…no, I’m still in Chicago…Dr. Jordon’s holding on, but no one expects him to survive.” Daniel continued briskly, burying his emotions. “General, I’m holding an Egyptian burial jar…and it has an extra set of symbols on it, which no one here has ever seen…yes, I know what they are…they’re Goa’uld symbols, General…You’ll have the plane prepped and waiting for me? Will you contact Sam on Antar and ask her to return? Thank you, sir. I just want to go check on Dr. Jordon briefly and then I’ll be there…thanks again, General.” Daniel said and hung up.

Daniel debated whether or not to ask the Curator for permission to take the Isis jar out for “testing”. If the artifact was what he feared it was, the museum would never get it back from the Air Force, but on the other hand he did not wish to get the lady who had been so nice and helpful to him, into trouble. So Daniel went to her office and was given permission to take the artifact out after signing the proper forms.

With the Isis jar safely boxed up and hidden away in his carry-on bag, Daniel next quickly drove over to the University Hospital and made his way to David Jordon’s ICU room. He was hoping to return to Chicago after taking the Goa’uld artifact to Sam for analysis, but he did not want to take the chance that he would never be able to see his old mentor again without saying goodbye to him. Daniel entered the hospital room and sat down in the chair near the bed. He thought about all of the things Professor Jordon had done for him during his short career and about what was hidden in the bag he carried…Daniel took one of the Professor’s cold, limp hands in both of his and looked out the sliding glass door to make sure that no one was nearby before speaking.

“I wish I could tell you about everything I’ve seen and done in the past three years, Professor.” He looked around again and then lowered his voice. “I was right, Dr. Jordon! I found the proof I needed to prove my theory; the pyramids Are thousands of years older than anyone ever believed them to be and they Were used as landing sites for alien space craft! These aliens enslaved the ancient peoples of Earth and took them to other planets to work in their mines…there are thousands…millions of Humans living out there in space; descendants of those ancient cultures. Greek, Babylonian, Egyptian, Norse, Celtic and many others. It’s – it’s like watching history come alive before my very eyes! But there is a downside…there’s a war going on out in space between two alien species; the group which enslaved ancient Humans and another, who have tried to watch over us and protect us…and I’ve been helping to fight that battle…I’ve seen so much…done so much!” Daniel petered off, looking around again; all clear. “I’d better go…I found something among the artifacts from the Stewart Expedition…it has to do with what I’ve been working on these last years and could be very dangerous, so I need to have it analyzed…I…hope to be able to come back and visit you again in a day or so…” Daniel said.

He looked into the old man’s eyes again…and saw them flutter weakly open just a little. Dr. Jordon was awake! Daniel stood up and bent over the man in the bed.

“Dr. Jordon?...David?” Daniel asked trying to get a reaction from him and reached out to press the call button for the nurse. “Hang in there…help is coming…”

A male nurse came running into the room.

“He’s – he’s awake!” Daniel grinned as the nurse checked over his patient.

Dr. Jordon managed to keep his eyes cracked open for a few seconds and then closed them with a sigh and his vital signs dropped a little. The nurse looked up and shook his head sadly.

“I’m sorry, sir; but many patients will come around, be totally lucid for just a short while before…the end.” The nurse warned.

“But, but he’s still alive right now…right?” Daniel pleaded, glancing between the nurse, Dr. Jordon and all of the monitors which surrounded him.

“Yes, he’s still alive, but I can’t guarantee…for how much longer.” The nurse said.

“I understand.” Daniel sighed, biting his lip and wrapping his arms around himself, trying to ease the stress he was feeling. “Listen, I don’t want to leave, but I have to, it’s very important that I return to my…employer…but I’ll be back by tomorrow morning if I can. In the meantime, here’s my card with my home, office and cell-phone numbers on it. Will you put them with Dr. Jordon’s records and call me if anything else happens?”

“Of course, Dr. Jackson.” The nurse said, reading his name off of Daniel’s card.

“Thanks.” Daniel said before picking up his bag and reluctantly leaving the room.

~*~*~*~

Back on P3X-555; Antar, a soldier came down to the training area from the Stargate chamber up in the hills and brought his superior, Michael Guerin, a note addressed to Major Samantha Carter. The training of Antarian soldiers, Earth’s new allies, in Human-type hand-to-hand combat techniques was going well as Michael looked over the group, searching for Sam. Not seeing her, he waited for Ferretti the lead instructor, after O'Neill and Carter, to call for a short break before calling Teal’c over to him.

“Hey Teal’c, where did Jack and Sam disappear to, they were here just a short time ago?” The Antarian general asked the Jaffa.

“They said that they both had other duties to attend to and that they would return here later in the day. Why, has something occurred which they should be appraised of?” Teal’c asked.

“Uh, it looks like General Hammond has sent a note for Sam. I’ll go look for her, but if I can’t find her, I’ll leave it at Beneck’s house, where the two of them are staying. Will you tell Sam that, if you see her before I do?” Michael asked.

“Of course, MichaelGuerin.” Teal’c agreed with a grave nod of his head.

“Great, see ya later.” Michael said before moving off.

Michael checked several different places where he thought he might find Sam Carter, but without any luck, so he headed on over to Beneck’s house with the idea of leaving the General’s note on the kitchen counter for Sam. Beneck’s back door was unlocked and Michael entered the house with relief, figuring that he would find someone at home, to whom he could give the message. But as he stepped into the kitchen, Michael received an eyeful…Sam was sitting up on the kitchen counter and Jack was standing closely in front of her, in between Sam’s spread knees and was passionately kissing her arched neck. Jack’s arms were encircling Sam’s slim waist and his hands had dipped inside the back of her black t-shirt to caress Sam’s spine.

“Oh man, you two are getting to be as bad as Daniel and Sha’re, or Max and Liz!” Michael exclaimed as he turned his back on the embracing couple. “I thought you told Teal’c that you had other “Official” duties to perform?”

“Uh, well I’m sure we do…and we’ll get to them…eventually.” Jack said dismissively.

Michael turned around but the other couple had only ceased kissing, their arms still encircled each other.

“Uh huh.” Michael said disbelievingly.

“Did you…need something, Michael?” Sam asked.

“Uh, yeah; General Hammond sent you a note.” Michael said, handing Sam the message.

continued in next post