Chapter One: Shadow of a Doubt

Charlie Kawlasky stared out at the setting sun with her packed bags at her feet and phone in hand. She should have called a cab a while ago, but she couldn't make herself dial the numbers. This was such a big move and Charlie wasn't sure she was ready for it.

Spending the week with Nate and his family at their beachside cabana was just… She liked Nate, she liked him alot and given time and patience on his part, she might even come to love him.

Her grandfather shuffled up behind her, his walk made awkward by an injury from an ejection gone wrong. "Shouldn't you be gone by now? You're going to miss your flight if you wait much longer. You've been talking about this weekend all summer. Are you really going to stand there and let this slip away?"

A breeze picked up blowing Charlie's hair across her face as she gritted her teeth for just a moment. She was tired of standing alone fighting the world, she let go of some of the tension before turning to the only person who had loved her enough to let her be herself.
"I'm scared Gramps. I'm not sure I can do this. What if he turns on me or Haruka does? How do I know that I can trust them?"

Allyn sighed as he pulled Charlie towards him and held her tight. "I always hated what that woman did to you. I love you girl, just the way you are but don't let her hold you back any longer. You don't have to be alone, you are allowed to trust and love someone. If this Nate the one to show you how to do that, don't push him away."

Charlie fought her instincts to step away before leaning her head on his shoulder allowing herself a small moment of weakness. "How did you get to be so wise, Gramps?" she grinned ironically.

"A lot of mistakes and learning from them. Now why don't you get going there's a car out front waiting for you, General Shark called; she figured you might back out. Wanted to make sure I got you to the plane." He turned Charlie to face him. "Haruka's a good woman, she's nothing like your mother you can trust her. If her son's a smidgen like her, you can't go wrong."

"I didn't know you knew General Shark."

"She served under me in Serbia on my last posting. She was the first woman to be combat pilot, you couldn't miss her. You remind me a lot of her. If you want a woman's footsteps to follow, you could do a lot worse than Haruka Shark."

"I'll remember that." Shaking her head to get it straight, Charlie gathered up her suitcases as a car horn honked out front. "You called a cab, didn't you?"

"I knew you'd see things the right way, you just needed a shove."
Wrapping her arms around her grandfather, Charlie let herself be close to someone for just a moment. "I'll see you on Parent's Day this year?"

"I'll be there if the doctors let me. This old bag of bones isn't what it used to be, but I'll do my best. It's good to know you have people who care about you. Don't push them away and you'll be fine."

Charlie left with one last hug as she looked back her grandfather stood in the doorway waving and she hoped the bad feeling wrapping itself around didn't mean this was the last time she'd see him.

With a final wave she climbed into the cab on her way to see Nate and his family once more.

Jon moved around the house putting the finishing touches on the cleaning needed before the Fourth of July party. He could hear Cassie in the kitchen fussing over the appetizers and other food.

The two of them had been invited to Haruka's annual bash on the east coast but they had decided to stay here and share this day with their friends here. Besides Charlie needed some time with Nate's family and to adjust to her new life among people.

The doorbell rang and Jon headed off to answer the door. Jack and Jasmine stood on the doorstep and Sam's absence was keenly noticeable as well as all the rest of SG-1.

Jon waved them in. "Is Sam coming later, did she get tied up at work?"
What little color had been in Jack's face drained away. "She's off world right now, so's the rest of the team and there's been a bit of trouble."

"With the Ori?"

Jack shoved his way past Jon and into the living room, dragging Jon along with him. Drawing a deep breath he placed the babyseat down on the floor before he rounded on Jon. "Where did you hear about that?" He looked toward the kitchen. "I purposely kept you in the dark."

"Well you shouldn't have left a folder in the office a few months ago. I read it all and put it back. That plague almost killed us and you never said a word. Jack, you need to talk to me, I need to understand what is going on. I can help!"

Reaching out Jack's hand grabbed the front of Jon's shirt. "This isn't a game. These Ori aren't playing around, no matter what you think is going on it's much worse than you can imagine. If you join this fight it will chew you up and spit you out. Stay out of it, Jon. Follow your own path."

"Why should I, Jack, I'm a good officer and I can help!"

"No, you can't! You don't understand anything. This fight isn't for you, it never has been."

"Why not Jack, are you scared that I might be a better man than you? That I'll earn a bigger chest full of medals? Why Jack?"
Jack slammed Jon into the wall. "Because you, Cassie and Jasmine might be all I have left in this world! There was a battle yesterday four Ori ships came out of a Supergate, that's a really big Stargate that you can drive a ship through. We had two Earthships, and the Rebel Jaffa and the Asgard. Even the Lucian Alliance showed up but we still lost big time. It looks like everyone's gone every last one of them. We haven't heard from anyone! As far as I know Sam, Teal'c and Daniel are all dead! Do you want to join them? Do you have that big of a death wish?!"

"Jon, who was at the-" Cassie stopped in the doorway taking in the scene. She looked over at Jasmine who was screaming at the top of her lungs. "Jack, what do you mean, they're all dead?"

Drawing a deep breath, Jack let Jon go. "This wasn't how I wanted to tell you two about this." He ran his hand through his hair. "Cassie, we don't know for sure. The thing is we don't know anything, we do know four Ori ships came through the gate. We sent all the ships we had so we're stuck here waiting to hear from anyone. The Rebel Jaffa have sent a vessel but it won't be there until late tomorrow. Right now we just have to sit tight and hope Sam and the others are all right."

Jon watched Cassie hold Jasmine close to her while she buried her face in the baby's soft downy hair on the baby's head. "Sam and the others have to come back. I can't lose anyone else." Her voice was so soft Jon barely heard it.

Jack wrapped his arms around the his two girls. "I know Cassie, I know."

Jon looked at the two of them and wondered just what he should do. If he went out and joined the fight these two people could suffer more loss but could he just sit back and study while others fought and died?

Moving to Jack and Cassie's side, he wrapped his arms around them to share a moment of grief and potential pain.

Charlie stepped off the plane and was met by Nate, who wrapped his arms around her and kissed her soundly. As she pulled back he grinned as he cupped her cheek. "I missed you. How was your summer?"

"It was good to see Gramps again, but he's not looking good. I don't know how much longer he'll be with me and then I won't have anyone left."

Nate lifted her chin. "Hey you have me and my family too, you're not alone any longer. As long as you'll let me, I'm here for you."

"Out of the way Nate, I want to hug this girl too." Haruka wrapped her arms around Charlie, who froze for a split second before relaxing and returning the hug. "I'm so glad you came. Now Nate, grab the lady's bags and let's head home. Allen should have the food prepped and ready to cook. Let's hope I've been able to convince him that charcoal-burned Yakitori isn't healthy."

Jon stood in the backyard alone staring up at the stars when Cassie stepped out onto the grass. It was cold against her bare feet as she approached him.

"It's time for me to stop looking at the world with blinders on."

"Jon what are you talking about?" Noticing his look, Cassie shook him by the shoulders in anger. "You're thinking of going to the SGC aren't you. Jon, I thought you were going to take another route, the way Jack never tried."

"Cassie…"

"No Jon. They're doing fine just now. Why do you think you could change a thing?"

"What if they are all dead Cass, I mean, Sam, Daniel and Teal'c; who's left to fight? They'll need someone to step up and who has the experience. They lost a lot of good men in that fight and I can't stay here safe and sound while all those people are dying, not when I can make a difference."

"So what you're saying is you want revenge."

"I…"

"For once in awhile, don't think of others, think of what YOU want, and why you are here, in Academy."
Jon closed his eyes, was this about revenge, or was it about serving his country? He wanted to go; he really wanted to. Where was his place? Should he go right to the SGC or stay on the path that he'd chosen earlier when he told Haruka he'd follow Jack's research? Jack's shadow was long, and he had to decide which path was his. The answer was out there somewhere he just had to figure out where.

"I haven't decided anything Cassie. I'm going to talk to Haruka next week when she gets back to the Academy. Nothing will be set in stone until I do that." Jon wrapped his arms around Cassie, who laid her head on his shoulder.

"Do you think it's really bad? I mean the look on Jack's face when he talked about Sam and the others." She suddenly felt very cold. "I don't know what I would do if I lost her too, Jon."

Jon stared at the place where Jack they could see Jack holding Jasmine through the window. "It looks like it might be and I don't know what any of us would do without Sam. We just have to hold on to hope, Cassie. They'll come home, they always do."

"Mom didn't."

Jon held her tighter but he didn't seem to have a come back to her worries that time.

Sam closed her eyes as she floated in space, reliving the battle over and over again, wondering if she would live to see her little girl again. Fate was a horrible thing, leaving her to survive the battle only to suffocate. It just wasn't fair.

She forced herself to breath shallow and slowly, knowing her air was limited. The debris floating around her was ghostly and she just wanted to go home. Someone had to be out there the Ori would have killed everyone they would have left witnesses. Such a display of power needed to be spread.

Sam knew she just had to wait and someone would come. They had to.

There are two more chapters up on my site and if you would like to check them out Google my penname and you will find me. I love to hear from you whether you liked it or loved it. :0P

Taryn begged me to post this today, so here it is, just for you. Enjoy.

Also I have published two original pieces of work on Kindle you can find a link to them on my website as well.