The events in this novel are set in an AU future season (two to three years after Season Eight). Jack O'Neill never left the SGC.
Dedicated to VisualIdentificationZeta (you know why, VidZ!) and to liketoread.
This is a Jack/Other romance, so consider yourselves warned, shippers!
Also: this is one of my older stories, so people may seem OOC. I apologize in advance for that.
Chapter One
With my friends, I watched as the Stone Ring came to life. Four beings stepped out. They wore odd clothes, but were unmistakably of the same species as us. I clutched at Mika's shoulders to prevent him dashing out to the strangers. "Stay here," I instructed him – I feared that the boy's curiosity would kill him one day.
As Prime Elect of Hohonora, it was my duty to greet these strangers. I pulled my simple robes straight and went over to them. Tall – all of them were tall. One was built fearsomely and wore a gold marking on his forehead. He stood a little in front of another tall man with gray hair and warm brown eyes – I surmised that he was their leader. "Greetings," I said pleasantly, hoping that they would understand me.
A grin lit up the brown-eyed man's face. "Back at ya," he said. Whilst I puzzled over this remark, he waved a hand at the tall man wearing ocular aids. "Daniel; why don't you do your bit?"
The blue-eyed man – Daniel – pushed his oculars up his nose and smiled at me. "We're explorers from a planet called Earth," he said. They named their planet after one of the elements? "I'm Doctor Daniel Jackson, this is Colonel Samantha Carter …" – he indicated the tall woman with hair the color of Klanda's sands in the moonlight – "Teal'c" – the large man dipped his head in a gesture of respect – "and our leader, General Jack O'Neill."
I was curious as to why these three each possessed three names whilst the large silent one only had the one – was he a servant … or a slave? I shuddered then chided myself for the inappropriate thought – one should never judge another culture by one's own values. "I am Maroosh, First Elect of Hohonora," I said, uncomfortably aware that General Jack O'Neill was pointing a nasty black weapon at me. "There is no need for your weapon here," I told him. "We will not harm you."
The man shrugged, his eyes locking with mine. "We've heard that before," he said cynically.
Mika inched around me and peered at the strangers. "Greetings," he said to General Jack O'Neill. "What is that black thing for?"
General Jack O'Neill looked uncomfortable. "It's … uh … a weapon," he said, his eyes softening considerably as he looked at my tall young nephew. "We've learned that a lot of people aren't very friendly."
"But Maroosh is friendly," my nephew pointed out. "So, you don't need that thing."
I smothered a smile at the nonplused look on the older man's face – there was something so wonderful about a child's logic. He gave me a rueful grin. "Kids," he said, pointing the weapon downward. "Gotta love 'em."
As we escorted the strangers through to the village square, it became obvious to me that General Jack O'Neill did indeed love children. Mika had not left his side since their introduction and was wearing his strange hat proudly. A dozen more children had joined the tall man and I chuckled slightly. It was hard to reconcile the wary cynical soldier with his current persona, but I knew when people genuinely liked children. "Is he always like this?" I asked Colonel Samantha Carter.
The woman grinned. "Yep," she said. "Any planet we go to with kids, they're all over him in a second. I think he's just a big kid himself."
She said this fondly and I smiled. "He is your mate, Colonel Samantha Carter?" I asked. They appeared very close and looked well together.
Her eyes widened. "No," she said, flushing slightly. "No; he's my commanding officer and my friend." She touched my arm. "And call me Sam."
This one had four names? "Sam," I repeated, trying the alien sound on my tongue. "What of your other names?"
Doctor Daniel Jackson smiled at me, distracted from his animated conversation with Ke'las – our historian. "Got it," he said. "Colonel, General, Doctor … these are ranks or honorifics. Samantha, Jack, Daniel … these are our personal names. O'Neill, Carter, Jackson … family or clan names."
I understood. Many turns ago, we had also had clan names, but these had been lost to the mists of time as we had developed beyond the clannish instincts that led to unrest. "I see," I said. "And what about Teal'c?"
"I am a Jaffa," the large man said. "I am descended from the people of the Tauri, but my culture is very different. We also do not have clan names."
My curiosity was satisfied, and I looked over to where … Jack now wrestled with Mika and several other children. I smiled as Mika's gleeful laughter filled the air – since his father and mother had died four turns earlier, he had become very solemn at times. I had done my best for him, but was hampered by the fact that I was not mated. My advisors had pressed me to mate on several occasions, but none of the males I had met had made me feel the way Mika's parents had felt for each other. I was beginning to doubt that such a male existed.
I winced as I felt someone's pain – our people had some empathic abilities, but we had learned never to intrude. The mind was a sacred thing; not to be tampered with. Mika dashed over to me. "Jack's hurt!" he said.
I went over to the fallen soldier and saw that Mika's assessment was correct. His features were strangely drawn and he was muttering under his breath. I did not understand the words, but guessed that they were curses. "You are hurt, Jack," I said, focusing my senses in search of the source.
"My knee," he said. "Probably blown it out again."
I pushed his pant leg up over his knee and noted the purple swelling of the knee. "You have dislocated it," I said.
He hissed out a breath and glared at me. "Ya think?"
Sam was right; he was an overgrown child. I resisted the urge to chuckle – after all, the man still carried that nasty black weapon. I traced a finger gently over the scars that dotted the knee. He had evidently had surgery for this more than once. "Can you walk?" I asked him.
"Yeah, sure, ya betcha!" he sing-songed and lurched to his feet. His face went white. "Crap," he muttered, swaying.
I caught at him as he fell, but my small frame could not bear up to his large one and we fell in a tangle of arms and legs, his long body pinning me to the ground. "Bad idea," he commented, rolling off of me, then allowing Teal'c and Daniel to help him up. "You okay?" he asked me.
I got to my feet, wondering at this question. He was the injured party, not I. "Bruised and sore," I said, setting my disheveled robes straight. "Nothing more."
"Yeah; sorry 'bout that," he said, flashing a boyishly rueful grin my way. The man was a paradox; his gray hair indicated one age, his face a younger one, and his playfulness a still younger one.
"Do not concern yourself, Jack," I said, becoming accustomed to the alien sound of his name on my lips. "We will take you to Linvar – he is a healer of much skill."
"Crap." The man ran a hand through his hair, leaving it standing on end. "Make sure he breaks out the really big honkin' needles, huh?"
That word was unfamiliar to me, but appeared very familiar to Jack and his team. Daniel and Sam chuckled, while Teal'c raised an eyebrow with a small smile.
I paced uneasily outside Linvar's domicile as Jack's pain increased. I had never been so receptive to another person's pain, and could not understand why I appeared to be linked to be an out-worlder. Mika joined me in my pacing. "He will be okay, Maroosh," he said – the boy had adapted well to these people's language. "He's strong."
I smiled at the idea of my eight-turn nephew trying to comfort me. I was twenty six turns – I should have been comforting him. "I am sure he is," I agreed, "but he is not a young man anymore."
"I like him," Mika said.
"Oh, for cryin' out loud!" Jack said in an exasperated tone, limping out of Linvar's home. "Carter; I'm okay. Quit fussing." He came over to Mika and ruffled his hair. "Hey, Mika," he said.
"Are you okay, Jack?" Mika said anxiously.
I braced myself for another tantrum from the older man, but was surprised. Jack turned a gentle smile onto the young boy. "Peachy," he said. "In fact, my knee hasn't felt this good for a long time." He turned the smile onto me. "And no big honkin' needles, either!" he added happily.
I still did not know what he meant by this, but I returned the smile. "Linvar is very skilled," I said. "He has studied the body for more than a hundred turns." I winced slightly as my ribs protested my earlier fall.
Jack put his hand on my shoulder, radiating concern. "You know; you don't look so hot yourself," he said.
"It is not summer," I said. Indeed, as the afternoon drew on, it was becoming progressively colder. I rubbed my hands up and down my chilled arms.
"I guess you guys don't have idiom," he grumbled. "What I meant was; you're hurting a whole lot more than you're letting on."
He had not known me long enough to know me so well, and I wondered if he possessed some empathic skills also. Our abilities came from the Anquietas, but had been diluted over the turns. If Jack and his people were of the same ancient race as us, it was entirely possible.
I watched quietly as the visitors mingled. Daniel and Ke'las had been chattering ceaselessly since the evening meal began, drawn together by their love of history. Teal'c and Andrana – the tallest female of our village – were sharing battle stories. Sam was discussing the properties of our soil with one of our scientists. And Jack …
Jack sat at a table watching the activities. He was always watchful … always guarded. Like myself, he was a protector. And that position brought loneliness. I went over to him. "Greetings, Jack," I said, sitting down next to him. He was a head taller than I, but I was accustomed to this by now. "How is your knee?"
A smile appeared on his lips. "Great," he said. "Makes me wish we could take Linvar back with us when we leave." He peered at me suspiciously. "Done anything about your ribs yet?"
How did he know? Was he empathic, like I thought? "My ribs?" I said innocently.
His eyes hardened. "Don't play that game with me, sister," he said. "I nailed that trick long before you were born. I must've hurt you when I fell on you, and you're not breathing right."
Determined to prove him wrong – although he was correct; a curse on him! – I took in a deep breath, moaning at the stabbing sensation. "Told ya," he said with a smug smirk. "Time for a visit to good ol' Linvar, kiddo," he added.
I sighed – I had no more fondness for healers than Jack, but realized that this would be hypocritical. I got up from my chair, wincing as my ribs protested the movement. "I will go now," I said.
"I'm going with you," he said. "Make sure you actually go see him, and don't just slink off home." I glared at him and he gave me a sunny smile in return, completely unintimidated by me.
"As you wish," I grumbled, although a small part of me was pleased at his concern for my welfare. It was difficult to admit, but I was often lonely. This battle-hardened warrior struck a chord with me – we were two sides of the same coin. I chuckled slightly. The fact that he was also well looking with a strong, toned physique had not escaped me. I was untouched, but I was not blind.
"Private joke?" Jack looked at me curiously.
I waved a hand. "Extremely," I told him. I let out another moan as I breathed in too deeply, and the world went gray.
"Oh, for …". Jack pushed his hand through his hair, then swept me into his arms like I was a child.
"Put me down," I said. "This is not dignified."
"No, but you were about to pass out," he said, his strong arms making nothing of my slight frame.
"Your knees," I protested.
"They're fine," he said, striding along easily. "You weigh next to nothing – d'you ever eat?"
I chuckled – my appetite was prodigious. But my metabolism was extremely efficient – I never put on weight. "I do," I said, resigning myself to being carried like a bag of kula berries. "When I was a young woman, I dreamed of being swept off my feet," I said to him. "This was not precisely what I had in mind."
He returned the chuckle, the laughter vibrating from his chest through to mine. "Yeah; I'm no-one's dream guy," he said.
I walked out of Linvar's domicile, feeling much better for the treatment. Jack was waiting for me. "Hey," he said.
I had learned by now that this was a form of greeting. "Hello," I replied. "You did not need to wait for me – I am able to walk."
Mischief shot into his brown eyes. "I kinda liked playing the knight in shining armor for once," he said. "Mika said you need someone to look after you," he added with a grin.
I closed my eyes. "Children do not know when to keep quiet," I complained. "For the last two turns, Mika has been one of those most determined to end my single status," I explained. "He has thrown at least six eligible males in my path in the last turn alone."
Jack looked startled. "You're just a kid yet," he said. "You've got plenty of time. It's not like you're an old geezer, like me."
"I am not a child, Jack, any more than you are old," I told him, passing over the word 'geezer' as another of his peculiar idioms. "You are a strong, handsome specimen, in the prime of life."
He blushed slightly, to my fascination. I would not have thought this confident warrior capable of embarrassment. "Can it," he grumbled.
We strolled along the quiet village in silence, then Jack heaved a big sigh. "It's beautiful here," he said.
I smiled at him. I had never left this village, and therefore took its beauty for granted. Jack had seen so much in his travels throughout the galaxy and beyond – I still found this concept fascinating. It amazed me that he could take pleasure in such a simple thing. "It is," I agreed.
We stopped near the lake and he bent and sorted through some small stones. "What are you doing?" I asked, bewildered.
"Stones for skimming," he mumbled, his back to me.
"You are a very odd man, Jack," I commented. "What is skimming?"
He turned to face me, his soft brown eyes lit up once more in mischief. "You never skimmed stones as a kid?" he said. I shook my head, still not sure what he meant. "Well, we're gonna have to rectify that."
I had always been a quick study. Before long, I was 'skimming' stones alongside Jack, laughing at his grumbles when I made one of my stones skip six times across the water's surface before it sank. "Beginner's luck," he commented.
"You are a poor loser, Jack," I said, slipping off my sandals and dangling my bare feet into the cool water. I put my hand on his. "Thank you," I added.
He appeared startled. "What for?"
"It has been a long time since I had such a carefree evening," I told him.
"Life's too short not to have a bit of fun sometimes," he said. "I learned that the hard way a while ago."
The brooding look in his eyes warned me against inquiring, and I flinched as an ages-old pain brushed my consciousness. "Yes," I agreed. I sought for a way to make him smile again. "Another game?" I inquired.
It worked. His smile reappeared and warmed me. "Not just now," he said, putting a friendly hand on my shoulder. He sat down next to me, being careful to keep his boots out of the water. I knew better than to suggest that he take off the boots – that would leave him unprepared for action. He leaned back on his elbows and tipped his hat over his eyes, then breathed in deeply.
"So … Daniel says you've never gone through the Stargate," he said suddenly.
This was the strangers' name for the Stone Ring. "That is so," I agreed. "Our people know how to operate it, but we have never been able to find a combination that leads us to another world."
"Yeah; you could dial millions of combinations without getting an address," he said. He peered at me. "Y'know; if you wanted to start exploring, we could give you some 'gate addresses to friendly worlds." He chuckled. "Start with the Nox – you'd like each other."
I was startled at the offer. "We have nothing to give in exchange," I said.
"Huh, I don't know about that," Jack said. "Carter's getting pretty excited about whatever's in your soil. Besides …" – he cleared his throat – "what about friendship?"
I smiled. "We can certainly offer friendship," I said. I noticed the giant figure of Teal'c leave Andrana's domicile and shared a grin with Jack – our warriors had a different code, and I would not judge her. "And some of us can offer more."
"T, you dog!" Jack muttered with an admiring smile.
I had noticed Jack's eyes go to Andrana during the evening meal. "Do you admire her?" I asked curiously.
He chuckled, not offended by my curiosity. "Yeah," he said. "She's strong, beautiful and sexy as hell," he said. "Scary as hell, too."
"Then why did you not approach her?" I asked. "She is unattached, as are you. I do not understand what stopped you."
"The eyebrow," Jack replied. "Don't tell him I ever said this, but T can be intimidating as hell when he does the eyebrow."
I had noticed the habitual lift of the eyebrow that Teal'c performed. "Your secret is safe with me," I said playfully, imitating the lift.
He dipped his hand in the lake, then shook the water at me. "Brat," he said cheerfully.
I dodged the shower. "Old man," I retorted, springing to my feet. This man affected me in the oddest way. I punched him lightly in the shoulder then sprinted away.
He gave a whoop of laughter and shot after me. I was younger and more lithe than he … I was able to keep ahead of him for a good while. Then he suddenly appeared in front of me and I gave a soft shriek. "How did you do that?" I gasped.
"A-ah!" An index finger shot up. "Trade secret." He approached me with his hands outward; I backed away with a helpless laugh. "And now you must be punished."
I laughed until my newly healed ribs ached. This man – this alien – was so silly. "Have mercy!" I mocked him, admiring the way the moonlight played on his silver hair.
"Uh-uh." He shook his head. "No mercy for brats like you." He tugged at my shoulders and shook me lightly while I laughed.
I clutched at his shoulders and returned the favor – I was stronger than my slight frame suggested. "You are a horrible old man," I declared.
"Hell, yeah!" he agreed, dropping a swift kiss to the top of my head to my surprise … and pleasure. "Hey, it's getting late. Time to hit the sack, Princess."
I was puzzled at his odd terminology. "I am First Elect, not a princess," I reminded him. "And why would I want to hit a sack?"
He groaned. "Time to go to sleep," he clarified.
Ah. I sat down and pulled my gown around me. "I am not tired yet," I said, curling my feet under me. I thought muzzily that I should go and retrieve my sandals, but reminded myself that they would still be there come the morning.
Jack sat down next to me, stretching his long legs out and tipping his hat over his eyes once more. "It's been a long time since I felt so relaxed," he confessed. "I'm still waiting for someone to pull the rug out from under me."
I ignored his strange wording and felt the emotion instead. "You have been misled often," I said.
He gave a short laugh. "Oh, yeah!" he said. "Remind me to tell you about the Eurondans someday."
I acknowledged to myself that his mistrust hurt. "What can I do to convince you that we truly mean no harm?" I asked.
"Nothin'," he grumbled. "Words are just words. It'll take time for us to trust each other, but … I'm willing to try if you are."
I smiled slightly. From this battle-weary warrior, this was the closest to trusting that he felt able to offer. "Yeah, sure, ya betcha!" I told him, pleased when he grinned.
"Oh, you're just askin' for trouble, little miss Prime Elect," he said lazily.
"Big bad warrior," I shot back, enjoying the silliness. I did not get to indulge my childish side very often and I relished this. "You do not scare me."
He tugged off his cap. "There goes my bad-ass rep!" he mourned.
I smiled at him, feeling my eyes grow heavy. "It is a beautiful night," I said. "I believe I will sleep out here tonight." Mika was sleeping at a friend's tonight, so I did not have to go home. I touched his warm hand. "Do you like to sleep under the stars, Jack?" I added.
"Yeah," he said, tugging off his thick jacket and wrapping it around my shoulders. "You'll need that if you're sleeping out there tonight," he said as I protested.
"But what about you?" I objected, breathing in his scent – something vaguely spicy, yet pleasant.
He grinned. "Babe; I'm from Chicago – I can handle this!" he said.
Babe? Now he was calling me a baby? I opened my mouth to protest, but was cut off by a wide yawn. It appears that I was more tired than I had realized. I leaned my head back against the tree. "Good night, Jack," I said. "Thank you for your company today."
He brushed his lips over my forehead in a tender gesture that surprised me. "Good night, Princess," he said.
"I am not a princess," I mumbled.
"A-ah! Whatever," Jack said. "Eyes closed – now."
"Yes, sir!" I laughed.
"Sweet dreams," he replied.
I smiled slightly – if I dreamed of him, they would certainly be sweet dreams!
I surfaced to wakefulness as the sun rose and blinked. This was not my bed. And who was next to me? I looked down and realized that my head was pillowed on Jack's chest and his long arms were wrapped around my waist. I blushed fiercely – if any of the villagers saw me like this, they would assume that I had lost my virtue … and to an alien!
I was not naïve enough to think that men and women only came together after marriage – my own birth told me differently – but I knew that I would not give myself to a man until my wedding day. Besides, the idea scared me. I had heard that the first breaching was painful and that the sexual act was a pleasure only for men – it was a duty for women.
So why, then, did I feel this pleasure at the warmth of Jack's arms and chest? Why did I wish to press my lips to his? I blushed even more fiercely and attempted to slide free of his embrace. He mumbled something incoherent and hugged me tightly to him.
"Jack." Daniel appeared from behind the tree, and his blue eyes widened.
Jack shot up and I wriggled away from him. "Hey, Daniel," he said.
"Something you want to tell me, Jack?" Daniel inquired innocently, his blue eyes dancing with mischief.
I was certain now that my face was going to burst into flames. I got up and returned Jack's outer garment to him. "Good morning, Daniel," I said regally, attempting to gather my dignity to me, despite my missing shoes and disheveled hair.
He smiled slightly. "Good morning, Maroosh," he returned. "I didn't mean any offense," he added.
"Then no offense is taken, Daniel," I said gently. None of the villagers were out yet and my virtue was intact. I leaned over to Jack. "Time to get up, old man," I told him cheekily.
He bounded to his feet in a very youthful fashion. "Brat," he said cheerfully, plucking a leaf from my hair.