Chapter Three

Consciousness crept slowly to the sleepy redhead, the warmth of the crumpled blankets leeching what little will she had to arise from the bed. The sun didn't help as it streamed in through the window to land on her bed, just below her back. She snuggled deeper into them, letting the thoughts of getting up fade into the background of her mind as the warmth of the sun started to put her back to sleep.

At that moment a faint breeze blew in through an open kitchen window, sending fresh scents of breakfast wafting through the house. Wisps of fresh egg, bacon, and toast smells slid past Willow's nose, bringing her eyes open again. She took a deep breath, a smile coming to her face as she thought about the fact that it was not her in the kitchen making those wonderful smells. She sat up straighter, her brow furrowed. Just who was making breakfast? Buffy was lucky if she could perk a pot of coffee and pour a bowl of cereal, poor thing. When it was her turn to do breakfast more often than not a bag of sausage and egg biscuits from Micky D's would be waiting on the kitchen table. So who was doing the cooking? Dawn? She wasn't due back for a couple of days. Tara? Her heart skipped a beat, then she shook her head. The fight they had had... there would be no easy getting over that. Two weeks had gone by with no word from Tara at all. She blinked, fighting back tears as memories slid past her mind's eye.

With a shake she brought herself back to the present, determined to deal with those feelings another time. Speaking of time, it was time she got out of bed and figured out just who was cooking breakfast. She slid out of bed, grabbed her clothes, then headed for the bathroom.

Fifteen minutes later Willow made her way down the stairs wrapped in the plush bright pink robe that Tara had gotten her last Solstice, toweling her hair as she did. Thus she missed seeing the group sitting around the kitchen table.

"Since when did you learn to cook, Buffy?" Willow asked as she pulled the towel off her head. She turned toward the kitchen then skidded to a halt as she saw the four soldiers. Her eyes darted from figure to figure, taking in their fatigues, along with the pistols on their belts. Holstered, but still there. And she could see behind them, leaning against the wall – and within easy reach, she noted – were what looked like small compact machine guns. They also had plates of food in front of them and it looked like she had interrupted their breakfast. At that moment her stomach let be known that it too could tell it was breakfast time, and announced it in no uncertain terms to the room.

Daniel smiled at the young woman, trying to set her at ease. "Breakfast is over there," he stated, nodding toward plates full of scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, and a pitcher of orange juice. "Teal'c goes overboard sometimes."

"I do not, Daniel Jackson." The voice was deep and seemed to resonate from the bottom of her feet. She looked toward the end of the table, where a hulking figure sat. After a moment Willow realized it wasn't hulking. He was just big. Muscular in all the right ways, he seemed to emanate strength just by sitting there. Then there was the symbol displayed on his forehead. Her own crinkled slightly as she thought she recognized it. But she couldn't put her finger on it.

"Um, hi?" she replied meekly, her eyes moving back to Daniel. She tried speaking, but for a moment nothing more came to her. Then, "Can I ask what you are doing in my kitchen?"

"You must be Willow," Daniel said, then nodded as he saw the answer in her eyes. "Buffy said to tell you that she had to go down to the magic shop to see Anya, and then she would be back."

Willow stared at Daniel. What he said made sense. Buffy did have some business that she had to take care of with Anya this morning. She'd mentioned it last night at dinner. But that still didn't answer her question.

"Nice avoidance there, bright eyes," she said to Daniel. "But you still haven't answered my question. Who are you and why are you in my kitchen?"

O'Neill chuckled, bringing the girl's attention to him. He could see in her eyes that she would be quick to lose patience with them. He'd heard from Janet just what kind of crazy a teenager could bring, and after all, they were guests.

"I'm Col. O'Neill," he said to her. "This is Major Samantha Carter, Daniel Jackson, and Teal'c." Each member of his team nodded to her as she introduced them.

Willow nodded to each of them. The Major was a fair looking woman, obviously in shape. And from the amount of gear she was carrying she appeared to be able to keep up with the boys. She returned Willow's look with one of her own, and Willow could see the intelligence behind those eyes.

Daniel Jackson appeared almost boyish, with a naivete about him. His eyes and mouth showed that he probably smiled at the drop of a hat. Yet there too the eyes gave him away. No stupid man there.

Then her eyes turned to Teal'c, and all became clear. "I see," she said to them. "You came to us because of the demon in this man's body. You wish it removed?" She didn't know how she knew, but she did. It was the magic, of course. Lately it had manifested itself more and more on its own, without her having to call it. It felt good.

They all reacted to her statement, each in their own way. Daniel's eyes grew larger as he connected what she had said with the immature Gou'ald inside Teal'c. Sam was quick on the draw, a gasp coming from her. Teal'c's eyebrow merely rose.

"You speak of the Gou'ald inside of me," he said. "It is no threat. It keeps me alive." He did nothing as Willow slowly made her way over to him until she stood right next to his chair. Her eyes looked almost luminescent as she looked at him.

She closed her eyes and passed a hand out in front of her, taking in the entire man. She could feel the creature in him, and could see how it was helping him. But she could see hurt there, too. Though not hurt now. More like hurt later.

"You speak truth," she said simply, and the power in her voice could be felt by all of them. Each wondered just what kind of world they had stepped in. "But this thing that helps you now will hurt you later." She looked directly into Teal'c's eyes. "You must rid yourself of this soon. Or lose your life to it."

Suddenly the front door slammed open, startling all of them. "I'm home!" Buffy yelled from the doorway. "Did you miss me?" She sauntered into the living room and immediately noticed the tension in the air.

"Did I miss something?" she asked as she headed over to the breakfast makings and made herself a plate. Willow quickly joined her.

"Since when does the Army come visit?" she asked Buffy. Her stomach growled once again. This time though she answered the call and filled a plate for herself.

"I found them lost in the warehouse section," Buffy replied as she leaned against the center counter in the kitchen and began eating. "They haven't a clue about Sunnydale. I couldn't leave them out there." She gave Willow that half grin that she knew always got her friend. "Besides, I found them right where you said you felt that magical upheaval yesterday."

Daniel, having gotten up get more coffee, paused, having overheard Buffy's last sentence. "I'm sorry," he said, letting his curiosity get to him again, "but did you say magic?"

"Yes she did," Willow responded.

"Now ladies, we all know that there is no such thing as magic," Daniel replied, thinking about all the cultures where so-called magic had been an integral part of their culture. They had managed to explain most of what was reported to be magic to advanced technology. What was that saying, advanced technology cannot be discerned from magic? Something like that. He also had conveniently forgotten the feeling he had had when he had watched the redhead with Teal'c not five minutes ago.

"Excuse me? What world do you come from?" Willow asked sarcastically, her eyebrows raised. The man was in Sunnydale and was spouting off about there being no magic? Hello? Anyone remember the Mayor?

"We're from Earth, actually," Daniel blurted. "Just not your Earth."