Flyboys, Spacemonkeys and Radar Telemetry – The O'Neill Roundup
Spacegypsy1
SG-1 takes a vacation. Romances derailed. A little blood spilled. An Archeologist lost. A Pirate pirated. A Scientist abandoned. A Homeboy trapped. A Jaffa stranded. A General delayed. The doctor and the Hak'tel leader left to wonder.
So, who do you call when trouble finds you and your transmitter can't save you? General Jack O'Neill of course!
A/N: Thanks to childofspacegypsy1 for the many titles offered, from which I could not choose and so lumped together to create the title.
And thanks to MrsPollifax for first read run through and both MrsP and Childof for some beta work. This remains not completely beta'd.
Chapter One: Beginnings
"He who chooses the beginning of the road chooses the place it leads to. It is the means that determines the end." Harry Emerson Fosdick
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Egypt. It had been so long. The sun, though brutally hot, felt good beating down on the bandana he had tied around his head. All his trepidation had been for naught. He'd been right to bring her along, instead of leaving her alone at the SGC.
Daniel gazed through the haze across the expanse of sand, finding it hard to get a clear image of her. She'd chosen, of course, the height of 'dig' fashion, blending in with all the young 'treasure hunters' on a working archeological vacation. She worked hard and stayed out of trouble.
Squinting he could barely pick her out of the crowd. But he knew she wore a tight white T-shirt that read 'Shovelbum'. His grin was broad as he turned back to his work. Her laughter reached his ears and he turned again, seeing her there on her knees between two twenty-something male students.
The smile tried to turn down into a frown as his brows took a slight dive towards a scowl. Stopping himself, he shook his head to clear the strange reaction to her flirting. They were friends. He knew she was accompanying the group to Cairo later tonight for the weekend. Why should it bother him if she chose to have fun?
"Dr. Jackson?"
Daniel brought his attention back to where it should have stayed. "Yeah?" He raised his eyes, looking up from his position on the ground, one hand blocking the glare of the unrelenting sun. The young woman standing over him was smiling a little too adoringly for his comfort.
"We found something we'd like you to look at." She told him twisting to and fro, reminding him of the Shovelbum. Damn! This was driving him crazy.
"Sure, er…ah…Moriah," Head tilting back down, he puffed out his cheeks and blew a frustrated sigh. So much for the chance at a relaxing dig. He'd wanted to do nothing but dig, to lose himself in one spot, one purpose, one little hole in the sand. No teaching, no showing, no explaining. No god damned talking! Just getting away from the past eleven years of constant peril and burying himself in the work he loved – in the place he loved.
Standing, Daniel followed Moriah across the dig site. Once the word had spread that an 'expert' Egyptologist was on site, and once the lead archeologist – one who appeared to be all of twenty-five years old – had started to defer to Daniel, his intention to have a peaceful two week vacation spiraled down into mostly answering questions, identifying artifacts and wondering why the hell he couldn't keep his thoughts, as well as his eyes, off of his dark haired traveling companion.
Walking through the housing area towards the vehicle that would take him to the other dig, Daniel ignored the young woman's obvious and provocative attempt to get his gaze on her six. Instead he studied the small buildings. The house he'd rented, made up of sun dried bricks, appeared golden in the afternoon sun, its weathered red door stark against the glint of light.
The student turned with a happy smile, he nodded and pointed forward and once again she trudged on, but not before she winked.
Rolling his eyes, Daniel screwed up his mouth in an annoyed sideways grimace. Oh this is just great. Little Miss Tight Jeans wants me. Yeah, right. Just what I need!
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Feeling silly for worrying about her current state of dress…or more like undress…Sam relaxed on the chaise lounge and continued to apply the coconut scented tanning oil on the expanse of skin between the bikini top and bottom.
Taking a quick glance at her laptop on a nearby table, under the bright tropical flowered umbrella, she stared at it in thought. Finally, she turned away, put her large, dark sunglasses on and reveled in the smell of the ocean breeze.
She could almost feel the oil sizzling in the hot sun bouncing off the white beaches of Bora Bora. Eyes closed, she fought the urge to retrieve the science journal that lay unread on the sand beside her. After all, she'd promised.
Doing nothing. How does someone do nothing? With patience honed in years of service to Stargate Command she willed herself to relax.
Not a sound announced his approach, but the instant the shadow blocked the sun across her midriff a slow smile spread across her lips. Without opening her eyes she told him, "Jack, you better be holding one of those daiquiris."
"Ah…Carter, I have to leave."
Snatching her sunglasses off, she sat up. "What!? We've only been here three days. What do you mean we have to leave!?"
"I have to leave. I have to get back to D.C."
Pushing herself up, Sam began to gather her things. "What is it? What's happened?" Her voice, though worried, held a note of excitement.
He laughed, "Settle down." With a broad tanned hand on her sternum he gently pushed her back to sit on the lounge. Without removing his hand, he smiled down at her. Her large blue eyes were intent on his face and he could feel her heart beat beneath his palm.
"I'm sorry. It's nothing universally shattering, nothings going on with the…program. But I have to go back." He pulled his hand from her and stuck it in his pocket.
That's when she noticed he was dressed in travel attire. Up she went again. "I'm going with you."
"No, Carter, you're staying here. "
"I'm not staying here by myself!" Stuffing her beach essentials into the bright orange beach bag, Sam hurried. "Give me a minute, and I'll be ready."
Taking her by the shoulders and turning her back to him, he insisted, "You're staying here, I won't be gone more than three days, then I'll be back."
"Oh. Well why didn't you say so?" Her bright smile replaced the worried frown.
"I have a chopper waiting. Be good. And don't spend all your time on a laptop." He kissed her quickly, but when he tried to pull away, her hand snaked around his neck and held him there for a passionate reminder of what he was going to miss. Reluctantly, he managed to end the teaser. "Ah, right. I'll be back soon. I left the credit card, go shopping, go to the spa, go kayaking. Do something while I'm gone."
She nodded.
"Promise?"
All she said was, "hurry back."
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Howling wind whistled through the closed truck windows as Cam, eyes squinting to see through the sheet of white snow, carefully made his way up the mountain pass. He knew that somewhere in the next mile or two there was a small church where he could pull over.
He hit the steering wheel in frustration. "Possibility of light snow my ass!" He couldn't call her on his cell phone until he stopped unless he wanted to chance a dive off the side of the mountain. Besides, she'd only worry. Since she'd left two days earlier for the cabin he'd rented, she'd missed the blizzard. "Damn!"
By the time he pulled up at the door of the church – less than thirty miles from Cheyenne Mountain - his muscles were tense and his head ached. Gearing up for the short sprint to the large double wooden doors he'd spotted when the wind shifted, Cam made sure he had a bead on the target, his duffle bag gripped tight in his fist and his phone safely tucked into his inside jacket pocket.
Hand on the car door handle he waited. And waited. The snow was driving harder now and the wind screamed like a banshee. He settled down and mapped out the distance in his mind.
"Go!" He told himself, pushing the car door open with effort. The wind hit him like an artic blast. He hesitated only a minute to get his bearings, kept one hand on the car for an instant more, and then rushed forward as best he could.
It must have been the first step that sent him crashing face down in the snow. Feeling around under the snow he found the second step, and then the third, and crawled upward for the last one. Blood dripped from his nose, leaving a trail of red across the stoop, as he used the hard wooden surface of the door to pull himself up.
"Of course the son of a bitch is locked! It's a goddamn church!" The words yelled were taken away with the wind. Resting his forehead against the door, Cam kept yanking on the handle. Finally, his eyes slanting skyward, he confessed, "sorry 'bout that," then with all his strength he shouldered into the door, breaking the lock, and tumbled into the warm interior.
He used a booted foot to kick the door shut and then lay face down on cold stone to rest.
Eventually, he rolled over and stared at the vestibule ceiling. "Anybody home?" He called, but got no answer. With the sleeve of his jacket he wiped the trickle of blood from beneath his nose, then, head turning, he found the puddle of his blood on the stone floor. Exhausted, he stretched out his arm and wiped it with his sleeve.
Digging in his inside pocket as he sat up, Cam located his phone and pulled it out. What was left of it. Holding the smashed bits in his gloved hand he stared at the mangled pieces. "Ah, damn, that's not good." His eyes rolled upwards in question. "What did I do? You gotta figure I need a little help here."
Bouncing to his feet Cam wandered down the aisle calling out softly, "Hey, anybody here?" His echo, his only answer.
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With a dark look and an eyebrow raised, Teal'c stared at the technician.
The young sergeant backed up, sputtering in explanation, "Sir, we have no idea why the 'Gate's down. It never happened before. I've been on this Alpha Base for three years."
"How long?" The Jaffa narrowed his eyes at the sergeant.
"I don't know, sir. We're working on it. Maybe a few hours?"
Teal'c nodded and left the Gateroom. He was thousands of light years from the SGC as well as his destination. He had hoped to arrive early for the elaborate festival planned honoring the Hak'tel leader. She expected him.
Having promised the SGC commander to accompany the new recruits to the Alpha Base, Teal'c had delivered them less than an hour ago. Now, apparently, some malfunction had occurred and he would have to wait. The actual ceremony began at sunrise tomorrow, with something special planned for the afternoon; however, he'd looked forward to his visit tonight with the lovely honoree.
He was a patient man, but this twist had him unnerved. It had been many months since his last visit, with only occasional short contact through messages.
Teal'c wandered the Alpha Site corridors searching for something to occupy his time.
Setting his travel bag on the floor of the gym, Teal'c watched the lone man who practiced with the wooden staff. "Care to spar?"
The man turned, surprised by the Jaffa's deep voice. His eyes grew large, but he recovered quickly. "Sure. You're stranded too, I see."
"Indeed, MajorDavis."
Three hours later, Davis joined Teal'c in the small commissary. "They're sending the Daedalus with parts and Dr. Lee from Earth. Seems Colonel Carter is off on vacation with a heavily mandated 'do not disturb'. We could be here for days." The Major took a seat across from Teal'c.
"I have faith in . When is the ship scheduled to arrive?"
"Around midnight. They've assigned us quarters for the night. You're bunking with me since space is at a premium around here."
"Midnight." Teal'c reflected aloud. "I have spoken at length with the technician. He is convinced of what the problem is. Perhaps when the parts arrive it will only take minutes to repair."
"Teal'c, this base has enough parts to build a new Stargate, three or four times, I don't think Dr. Lee and a handful of odds and ends will get it back up. Dr. Lee thinks it's the computer and Sergeant Cummings thinks it's the power grid, and somebody else thinks it's the Stargate itself. This might take a while."
"I will attempt to contact ColonelCarter myself when the ship arrives."
"Good luck. General Landry authorized her transmitter code deactivated. He's the only one who knows where she is."
"Then I shall contact O'Neill."
"He's in route to Washington for some closed door session. It could be a while."
Before Teal'c could say a word, the alarms sounded.
"We've got incoming! All hands to battle stations!"
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Vala stood with hands on her hips watching Daniel follow the buxom blond who'd been dogging his steps for the last three days. She watched them until they disappeared in a haze towards the living area. Hmph!
She was miserable. It wasn't the heat, or the grueling labor. It was her own wretched decision. He'd rented the little house with two bedrooms and offered for her to stay there. She'd refused and opted to stay in the women's dorm. Why had she done that?
Hoping the distance would help her keep her hands off him during their sabbatical had worked a bit too well. Her plan, the one that obviously had just failed, was to entice him with her good behavior. Now look what she'd done!
That little minx archeologist had wiggled herself right into his line of vision on more occasions than Vala cared to count.
"Well! I'm not taking this sitting down!"
"What?" Gary the amateur archeologist asked.
With a goofy blink and a stab at innocence, Vala looked at him, "What?"
"What are you not taking sitting down?"
"Nothing. When are we leaving for Cairo?"
"Whenever you say. We're on vacation, our leader is off with some problem and said we can leave anytime, we have to be back by Sunday evening."
"Well, then, now would be good."
The drive into Cairo with the college aged group of two men and four other women was crowded and hot. By the time she'd changed her mind about going it was too late. They were halfway there.
She didn't know for sure he was off on some tryst with Blondie, she needed to talk to him. As soon as she got back Sunday she was going to ask to move in the house with him. Her excuse would be the bathtub. The dorm only had showers.
When the Land Rover bounced off across the sand, Vala turned to the driver. "Where are we going?"
Gary winked. "A short cut the driver took last week, cuts about twenty minutes out of our drive. You keep your eyes on that pyramid in the distance for eight miles. Then you come to an old one lane road, take a left and it's minutes to town."
About four miles into the jump across the desert someone pointed straight ahead. "Hey, guys, what's that?"
"Looks like a caravan. Pull up, we'll wait for them to pass."
The car came to a halt and the occupants watched the caravan of dilapidated vehicles, accompanied by a few camels, approach.
Vala's hand went for her side arm, which, of course, wasn't there. She had an uneasy feeling about this.
Within minutes, the seven of them found themselves staring into the barrels of several guns. The bandits yelled in Arabic, surrounding the car.
"Does anyone here speak Arabic?" Vala didn't look around as she spoke to her companions.
"Dr. Jackson does." One of the women responded.
"And do you see Dr. Jackson here anywhere?" Voice tense, Vala mumbled as the thieves moved closer.
"Kree!" Vala yelled and was rewarded with startled, dumfounded expressions. Obviously not Goa'uld.
Still barking out unrecognizable orders, their assailants motioned the group to the waiting vehicles as someone got into their car and they moved off across the desert in the direction clearly away from the dig site and Cairo.
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Daniel held tight to the side of the Jeep as Moriah raced towards the outlying dig site. There was silence in the car. She'd asked him if he was single and he'd told her he was involved with someone. It wasn't a lie, just not the truth. Yet. "Hold up a minute." He spotted something across the sand, just barely glinting in the sun.
He was nearly tossed out at her sudden stop. He frowned. She smiled. He told her he was going to check something out and to stay put. She shrugged and pulled a nail file from her pocket and began to file.
About thirty feet from the vehicle, Daniel felt the sand shift an instant before it opened up and swallowed him. His yell cut short as he thumped against something. Barely conscious he looked up the six or so feet he'd just dropped through and watched the sand trickle across the broken boards and begin to cover up the hole.