A/N: For those of you that don't know, this is the sequel to A Tangled Green. Reading that first will help loads, but if you don't feel like it, you might get by…or not. Anyway, here it is! Thanks to those of you who supported my idea to make this, and I hope it doesn't disappoint. Enjoy your reading and please review!

Next of Kin

Dr. Daniel Jackson sat at a cluttered desk in his lab, various artifacts and papers needing translation scattered across its surface. But the only object that had his attention was a plain black notebook, the one he carried with him on offworld missions for notes. It was flipped open to a page with a hastily scrawled gate address on it, a few smudges of blood on the edges. Frowning, he just sat there, staring blankly at the paper.

Finally making a decision, he picked up the phone on his desk and quickly dialed a familiar number. It rang for a while, each ring making him consider hanging the phone up and not talking to the person on the other line.


Terrified, she ran as fast as she could, winding past trees and jumping over bushes. She could smell the smoke in the air, hear the crackling and feel the heat on her back. She had to get away from it, she had to run faster!

But the faster she ran, the closer the heat came, the noise filling her ears. Coming to a stop, she saw a dreaded sight in front of her. Somehow it had wrapped around and surrounded her. The darkness of the forest was banished by the bright flickering light it cast. She couldn't get away, there was nowhere left to run.

Slumping to the ground in defeat, she began to weep. The rustling and crackling became louder, until it was all a roar. The heat was almost unbearable. It was becoming very hard to breath and she began coughing through her tears.

Suddenly, something cool brushed one shoulder, then the other, and began softly wrapping around her arms. It was a relief from the heat, and the soft caresses calmed her. She leaned back into it, felt it enwrap her in its safe embrace. Tendrils smoothed her hair, the touch fluttery light on her face. Her face went slack as the rest of her body as she relaxed into its care.

The cool feeling wrapped all around her, closer and closer. It became uncomfortably tight, and she shifted, trying to push it away. But already it had completely enveloped her, pinning her arms and legs where they were. Panicking, she began to struggle in earnest. She saw a flash of green come around her face and before she could do anything it was in her mouth, reaching down her throat. She began to gag, but more followed, almost unending flow of green, sharp edges cutting her cheeks and mouth.

She couldn't move, she couldn't breathe, but she still tried to scream, struggling frantically. The roaring had come back, louder than before, and her skin felt like it was on fire.


Jerking up, she gasped for breath, totally disoriented. Even though it was hot in her room, her skin was covered in a cold sweat, her heart pounding in her chest. Trying to calm herself down, she looked around her dark room, attempting to slow her breathing. It was only a dream, just a dream. But what had woken her?

Ring! Ring! Ring!

The phone! Flinging back her covers, she scrambled out of bed and crossed the dark room to the phone, picking up the handheld receiver and walking back as she pressed talk. "Hello?" She said, trying not to let her voice waver.

"Lizzie? You okay?" A male voice asked from the other line with concern. Looks like she didn't cover it up enough.

"Yeah…yeah I'm fine, Daniel. Just a bad dream." She unconsciously shook her head, resettling herself on the edge of her bed.

A pause. "Yeah, I know what those are like." He said nostalgically. "But you're sure you're okay?" The concern was back in his voice.

"I'm sure, Daniel. It's just the same dream as always. Now I know you didn't call me just to save me from my perilous dream. I'm not the damsel in distress type, you know." Lizzie said lightly, trying to change the subject. It only partly succeeded.

A hearty laugh came from the other line. "No, I can't really picture you as one. I didn't know you had recurring nightmares. Why didn't you say something?" Daniel asked.

"Last time I checked, Daniel, you're a doctor of archaeology, not psychology. What could you have done?" She criticized. "And really, I've had the dreams for as long as I can remember, they're no big deal."

"So that's why you sounded like you'd just run a marathon being chased by a bear when you picked up the phone?" Daniel said sarcastically.

Lizzie couldn't help but chuckle. "Whatever. Now tell me, why did you call?" She lay back on her bed, legs still hanging off the edge, one hand pillowed behind her head.

"Oh…yeah. It's just something that's been frustrating me. I thought I'd get some advice." She could hear the consternation in his voice.

"So now I'm the one with the Ph.D. in psychology, am I?" She heard him snort from the other end. "Okay, shoot." She could picture his infectious grin spreading across his face.

"Well, it's…" He paused, seeming unsure of what to say next. "It's about a diplomatic situation I'm trying to negotiate. You see, there is this group of people that would really be a great ally. We spoke with an emissary before, and even though we had a few…cultural differences, we seemed to be making progress. Then a third party came in and gave us information saying that these people we wanted to become allies with weren't who they said they were. That they had some…less than friendly motives. But before I could find out from the emissary whether or not the accusations were true, she…left." He sighed. "Now I'm trying to decide whether or not to believe her, or to believe the third party." He went silent.

Lizzie frowned. "Okay, are you talking in code? Cause that made no sense whatsoever." An idea came to her. "You are talking in code! It's a woman, isn't it? You found some woman you like, but someone else told you she was cheating on you?" She asked eagerly.

Daniel laughed nervously from the other end. "No, no it's not a woman…well, she was a woman, but we're not…I mean, we weren't…Oh, I don't know why I called you." He sighed humorously. "You're as bad as Jack. And that's not a compliment." He added.

She glanced over at the clock, releasing a sigh of her own. "Well you can't blame me. Have you looked at a clock lately? You better not be at work right now!" Lizzie scolded.

"I was going to be going home soon!" He said defensively. "I just wanted to call you first." A pause. "Oh, wow…it's 3:28 a.m.! I didn't even realize!" She heard rustling of papers. "I'm sorry, Lizzie. I didn't mean to wake you up so late! I honestly didn't even realize how late it was."

Hearing how flustered Daniel was, Lizzie relented. "Oh, it's all right, Daniel. You needed to talk to someone, and I needed someone to wake me up. It worked out perfectly! But you better go home now, before it's time for you to be back, already!" She smiled to herself.

"Okay, I'm getting ready to head out now. Bye—wait! You can't sneak by that easy!" Daniel admonished.

Lizzie smiled. "Damn! You got me! It almost worked, too!" They both laughed. "Okay, you want to know what I think about your non-relationship problem?" She emphasized the non. "I say, don't take the word of some third party whose interests may or may not be the same as yours. Trust yourself, Daniel. If you think they were telling the truth, then they were. Depend on your own information." She paused. "But if I hear of World War III breaking out, it wasn't my fault!" She added jokingly.

Daniel laughed. "Okay, will do. Thanks for the advice. I'll let you go back to sleep now, and no more nightmares!"

"Only if you promise to actually go to sleep when you get home." Lizzie haggled.

"Deal."

"Deal. G'night!" Lizzie said.

"Good morning!" Daniel replied before hanging up.

Flopping back on the bed after sitting up to throw the handheld across the room, Lizzie laughed to herself one more time before trying to settle back to sleep. In a few minutes she was sleeping soundly, without nightmares for the rest of the night.


Daniel shook his head as he put the receiver back down and grabbed his pile of translations he was taking home with him. Walking to the door, he flipped off the light to the room and was about to head toward the elevator when he remembered his promise. Sighing, he flicked the switch back on and crossed to the desk, depositing all his papers in a messy pile for when he came back. Satisfied, he left, turning the light off and locking the door with his keycard on the way out.

As he rode the elevator to the surface, Daniel pondered the advice Lizzie had given him, realizing she hadn't said anything he wasn't already thinking. That was the nice thing about Lizzie, she was always on the exact same page with him. Even if she didn't know all the details. Or even half of them. She always knew the exact right thing to say to make him feel better.

Talking, or rather, thinking about feeling better, Lizzie's comment about her dream worried him. She didn't seem like the type to have recurring nightmares. She was the most happy-go-lucky, contented person he knew. And to think that she had been having what must have been quite the terrifying dream for as long as she could remember? Next time he saw her, he'd make sure to bring it up, that way she couldn't dodge out of it.

Reaching his car, he drove home silently, still pondering about Lizzie and the advice she gave him. Keeping his promise, he went straight to bed after getting home. Even if he would only be getting a few hours of sleep, every moment counted.


A/N: So…how was that first chapter? I know, I know…very mysterious, and not at all like the previous story. But don't worry, it picks up! And all…many…some…a few…of your questions will be answered! But please, tell me what you think, I love the feedback! Hope you'll be looking forward to the next chapter, I know I am! F.Y.I. If I don't mention it later, this takes place several weeks after the story in A Tangled Green, or at least, this chapter does. Hmmm…