A/N: This is a sequel to my other Sherlock/SG-1 Crossover, Strangers and Secrets.
There are spoilers for the episodes Heroes Part 1 and Part 2.
Please note that I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on tv. All medical events are made up or copied from what I've seen on tv shows.
Also, I realize that the Stargate Program is a top secret military program and there is no way in hell anything like this would ever happen, but humor me, okay?
Please note that this is unbetaed and hasn't been britpicked. If anyone wants to volunteer, feel free :)
After that incident in Egypt with the weird American military, John decided to take up his Aunt Janet's offer to visit. Harry and Clara were still in the newlywed stage and he always felt like a third wheel. He and Harry had never been very close to begin with, and while he liked Clara, he just wasn't comfortable with them. He had no other family in London, and had lost contact with all his Uni friends when he joined the Army, so he had no place else to stay.
He soon discovered that leave was much more bearable when he spent it with his Aunt Janet. While she would try to take off to spend time with him, she wasn't always able to. The days she couldn't, he'd wander around town and spend some time with her adopted daughter, Cassie. Sometimes in the evenings, they'd go to the pub with some of the airmen from her base. They shared war stories, jokes, and complained about their officers. John noticed that their stories were often vague, but he never pried, being in a few covert operations himself. He felt a little guilty not going home, but he could only handle so much with his overbearing sister.
During the pub nights, John became fairly close with the group he met in Egypt. Their relationship was a little awkward at time, because they all worked together and John wasn't allowed to know what exactly they did. He asked Carter once, but she just fed him an obviously false cover story and John never asked again. Despite the large secret between John and SG-1, they got along rather well and John came to look forward to his leaves.
John had stayed with Frasier for quite a few of his leaves, and was actually happy about this leave. Janet had managed to get a whole three days in a row off.
"You've got great timing, John. There's a film crew on base today," Frasier nodded at Cheyenne Mountain. John had met her outside the base, and they decided to walk on some of the trails nearby. They were normally only used by the SG teams, but the public was allowed to walk them. "They're making a documentary. I'm sure I'll have to sit through an interview at some point, but the less cameras I have following me around, the better."
"A documentary?" John asked, surprised. "A documentary on a top secret military base you're always very careful to not reveal anything about?"
Frasier grimaced. "It doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but I guess they want one in case they ever decide to go public with the program."
"Yes, deep space radar telemetry just fascinates the public," John grinned, remembering the cover story a scientist from the pub tried to feed him.
"I wouldn't be surprised," she smiled back. "You never know with fads. A future trend might be science and learning. Math clubs might be more popular than baseball."
"In your dreams, Aunt Janet," John laughed. They walked in silence for a while, enjoying the nice autumn afternoon, although John was a little on edge. After spending the majority of last few years in a desert, the forest made him a little claustrophobic. He didn't like not being able to see around him.
They both jumped when Janet's phone went off. "Doctor Frasier," she answered. Her smile dropped and her face paled as she listened. "Understood. I'll be there soon. Ten minutes, top," she started walking fast towards the mountain, John on her heels. "Inform the General that I'll be accompanied by my nephew, a British army surgeon." She listened to the other end, before snapping into soldier mode. "I don't care about clearance," she barked. "I'm going to need help and none of the other doctors in today have adequate field training. He'll be coming with. He's been in covert operations, he can keep a secret. Good," she snapped the phone shut and started jogging towards the base, John on her heels.
He was surprised. "How'd you know about the operations? Their security clearance is plenty high enough in my own government."
"John, the only person in this country with higher clearance than me is the General and the President. And the General doesn't dare keep things from me. I was curious about what you were up to."
John nodded. There'd be more time to ask about this later, but now he had to focus on the situation, whatever it was. "So what happened? Why do you need me?"
"We have a team in the field under enemy fire. They've been cut off from safety and some have been hit. They're trapped." Frasier sighed in relief as they reached the road. Only a few yards stood between them and the first checkpoint.
"I don't understand," John frowned, moving up next to her. "Under fire where?"
She glanced at him. "John, what I'm about to tell you is top secret. I could be court martialed for this. If you ever tell anyone, the military will arrest you, probably without trial, and hold you indefinitely. What I'm going to tell you isn't even going to sound real, but I promise it is. In short, there's a device we found in Egypt. It's called the Stargate, it was built by aliens and it allows us to travel to other planets." Frasier nodded at the guards when they reached the checkpoint, who waved her on with only a glance for John.
"Doctor, there's a jeep waiting for you," one of the airmen pointed. She nodded at him in thanks.
"Aliens," John stated, trying to figure out if she was serious or just winding him up. They climbed in the back of the jeep, where there was an older man sitting. A quick glance at his uniform showed John that he was very high up in the military food chain.
"Doctor Frasier, Doctor Watson," the man greeted.
"John, this is General Hammond," Frasier told him.
"Sir," John greeted courteously, fully aware this man was probably one of the most powerful in America.
The General nodded at John. "Son, whatever she told you is the God-honest truth. I don't think I need to explain to you just how secret this program is."
John decided to just take everything in stride and have is crisis later when there was more time. "No, sir," he respectfully nodded.
"Good man," Hammond clapped him on the shoulder. "You can sign a non-disclosure agreement later. For now, we've got a bigger problem."
"What exactly happened?" Frasier wanted to know. As they talked, the jeep had arrived at the base. They quickly climbed out and trotted inside, where they got in an elevator and headed down.
"SG-13 went through the gate yesterday to P3X-666. They got pinned down before they could get back. Senior Airman Wells was badly hurt and he can't be moved yet. I hope you're as good in the field as the reports say, son," the General added, turning to John. They stepped out of the elevator and hurried down the hallway to the armoury.
He nodded, not bothering to ask how he got ahold of British reports. "British Special Forces, sir," he added, realizing it was probably unnecessary.
"Good. SG-5 and 7 are going through the gate now. SG-1 will accompany you two."
An airman helped John and Frasier into their gear which, John was relieved to see, was very similar to his own. He wasn't too keen on the idea of some alien thing protecting him. He quickly looked through his pack to see where the different supplies were. It was, once again, very similar to his pack. That was good. He was handed a familiar assault rifle and a handgun. They weren't the same model as his, but they were close enough that he would be able to use them if he needed to.
As soon as they were suited up, they were hurried again towards the elevator, where they were met with SG-1. John was pleased to see it was the same group from Egypt. He had gotten to know them some from the pub visits, and was comfortable enough with them to trust they had his back. They were geared up already, and armed to the teeth. As they neared, John could see why Murray was wearing each time they met. His gold tattoo thing on his forehead was very conspicuous. John wondered why he didn't get it removed, and if it had something to do with the whole alien planet part of their job. Along with the usual guns, he was also holding a strange looking staff.
"What's he doing here, doc?" O'Neill asked Fraiser, looking startled to see John.
"He's coming with," she told them in a firm voice, not accepting any arguments.
O'Niell glanced at the General, who nodded. He turned back to John and eyed him up, assessing him. "Can I trust you to watch our backs, Watson?" he asked in a cold, unfriendly voice.
"Yes sir. I was in Special Forces. Do you have my back, sir?" John met his gaze evenly, not worried about the tone, knowing this was the only test O'Neill had time for. He had done the exact same with other soldiers he met only minutes before going into the fray. Being cold and unfriendly to see their reaction was the quickest was to get a read on another soldier.
"We do, Watson," O'Neill softened and nodded grimly, though in approval. "Carter, you ought to tell Watson what to expect when he goes through."
John turned to Carter, who quickly explained what the wormhole felt like, and what to expect when he arrived at the other side. Although he still didn't quite believe this, he decided to shove down his doubts and trust what she told him.
"Wow," John blinked in amazement as they entered the Gateroom. The stargate was huge and strangely beautiful. The wormhole was already established, and the circle was filled with a blue swirling gooey substance. He followed the team up the ramp where they got into position and readied their weapons. He watched them go through the gate and when it was his turn, he took a breath and stepped through.
