Neighborhood Gossip

By PaBurke

Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. I own neither of the universes nor the characters.

Distribution: The Nook

Spoilers: Season seven finale of SG1.

Rating: PG-13, or slightly higher

"So aliens came out of the woodwork to help you?" Hammond asked incredulously.

SG1 had asked their CO to join them in Sam's lab, the only place where they could be sure of no eavesdroppers. "Yes," Sam answered.

"They spoke Ancient like Jack did," Daniel added. "And Jack knew of their species, probably from the Ancient database download. They said that they were refugees, but we have no way of verifying that. We could ask the Tok'ra, but I have a feeling that they might not know. The Tollan or the Nox might have heard of them, but we have no idea of when they'll answer our query."

"Or if," Sam muttered on behalf of the absent colonel.

"We have sent for the Asgard," Teal'c reminded them. "Perhaps they have heard of these Kryptonians." The ex-Jaffa used the Ancient descriptor to identify the alien type.

Daniel brightened. "They could. They've been around for a while."

"And there are two of them?" Hammond confirmed.

"They are an older couple," Sam said. "They have experience working with each other."

Teal'c remembered other points. "They appeared to have segregated the duties. The male was the warrior and the female was left to communicate and negotiate with us for his protection. She was uncomfortable to be in the presence of warriors not her mate."

Hammond nodded. "I tried to get a hold of all the pilots. Hopefully they will all keep their mouths shut about a red-blue blur that helped them before the Ancient weapon was unleashed. And I know that I got to the two pilots that talked with the alien."

Daniel frowned. "Talked with? How did they understand Kal El?"

Hammond delighted in knowing a little more than his premiere team. "Kal El was fluent in English, specifically American Mid-West English."

"Really?" Sam frowned. "Why did Lara talk to us only in Ancient if she could understand English and knew that that was our language?"

"It was what she was most comfortable with," Teal'c surmised.

Hammond was much more suspicious. "Or she was trying to throw us off the scent."

Daniel straightened. "We aren't looking for them, are we, sir? We promised that we wouldn't and they've lived here for so long and never harmed anyone. They risked their lives and security to help us out."

"When it looked like we might lose and that their refuge might be harmed," Teal'c conditioned.

"They even gave us a code word."

"Which you won't give me," Hammond grouched.

"It's a last resort. If we misuse it, they promised that they'd know and we'd never hear from them and we'd lose a hidden asset," argued Daniel.

"Daniel," Hammond warned.

"We gave our word," Teal'c interrupted. To him the question of honor ended the discussion. Sam looked a bit reluctant to be directly disobeying her CO, but she stood beside her teammates.

"So be it," Hammond said. "For now, I'll leave it be."

"Thank you, sir."

*