Hey everyone, thanks for stumbling upon my story. :)

As I started re-watching the whole series just recently and therefore read some of the beautiful stories out there I just had to give it a try and write down this story.

It connects with "Point of View" (3x06) and from there on alters the storyline with Charlie Kawalsky becoming a permanent member of the SGC. I just love the character and believe that things could have worked out a whole lot differently if he'd been a permanent one.

Have fun reading and feel free to tell me your thoughts about it!

Altering Lifelines

Prologue

Upon walking into the General's office, he could feel that something wasn't right. The General was standing upright with his back to him, arms crossed in front of him.

"Sir, you wanted to see me?" he asked, slightly sensing that his voice sounded kind of … unreal?

"Major." General Hammond acknowledged him and turned around to face him. "Thank you for joining us as well as your previous commitment.

"You need to let go of ghosts and wake up now."

"What? Sir, what are you saying? Wake up? I'm fully awake right now!"

Suddenly the alarms blared of, the whole satiation turning into something dangerous and foul.

"Major, you're not. But you will be in a short while. They are waiting for it."

"Sir, I don't understand you. Who's waiting?"

Suddenly he could hear screaming and guns being shot all around him. Next were the sounds of heavy, metallic steps, coming closer and closer.

He turned back to General Hammond and saw that they were no longer in his office but in the control room. General Hammond's face was bruised and instead of his dress shirt he wore a black shirt which was already slashed in multiple places. Other than that, he appeared to be calm.

Next, he could hear the metallic steps drawing nearer and upon turning again he could see the Gate opening itself and Jaffa coming through it in unending numbers.

"Sir, we've got to do something!" he all but screamed at the General while turning back to him.

"You've done all you can for us. There's nothing left to save here but yourself." He told him with a calm voice which confused the hell out of him.

Suddenly the heavy metallic steps cold be heard on the steps to the control room and he could see two Jaffa coming in, one staff weapon already blazing with the upcoming attack, aiming at his General. Everything moved in slow motion as the weapon was shot and General Hammond fell lifelessly to the floor. Out of the corner of his eyes he could see the attacker turn around, now aiming this staff weapon directly at him.

"No! This isn't supposed to end like this!" he yelled at no one in particular.

With that he could feel his whole shook while shutting his eyes, afraid of the sight which will greet him upon opening them again. He shook involuntarily. Somewhere far away he could hear his name being called but found himself unable to react to it as he awaited his upcoming death. Upon opening his eyes, he could see the by now dead body of General Hammond on the floor. He directed his gaze back to the Jaffa and saw him firing off his staff weapon. The shot fired off and he couldn't do anything but stay still. In his mind he could recall the events, the attack of the Goa'uld, all his colleagues and his friends, better say his family, falling victim to this attack already. Knowing that the deadly hit was only about moments away he closed his eyes, somehow refusing to show them the defeat he felt inside his mind.

But the fire never reached him and suddenly all the noises drew out and silence as well as darkness fell all around him.

'Charlie…' he could hear his name being called again. Who was calling him? He knew that he knew the voice but couldn't place it.

'Charlie…' he could here this voice again. 'Wake up…' the voice urged him on. Finally recognizing the voice calling him he was slightly astonished. Could it be? But he died. He saw him dying. He knew he was dead. 'Jack?'

"Kawalsky!" he was screamed at and felt himself moving up while opening his eyes again. There, right in front of him, surrounded by nurses there he was, shaking him up. "Jack?"

"Listen, you were shot. We're in the infirmary. It's okay. It's over. You're safe now." Jack called to him. Faintly he could make out the dull sounds of weapons being fired.

"It's over? Safe?" he asked him, at first not understanding the meaning of it, his voice hoarse. Then the memories came back. He closed his eyes, trying without avail to stop seeing the images which danced across his vision. The attack. Jack's death. The mirror. Sam and him crossing over to another timeline. The mission to rescue what was left of their timeline. General Hammond dying. Sam's death.

Upon falling back into unconsciousness, he could recall Jack's voice again. 'It's over. You're safe now.'

So far for the beginning of the story. Next chapter will be up shortly. Hope you like it so far!

Love and hugs, Nick Angel