Thank you to all of you who have 'alerted' and reviewed! I'm getting some great comments/ideas and guesses as to where the story is going - thank you. I love to get reviews - it makes me write more and faster - so, if you haven't reviewed, now is the time! Thanks. By the way - I have no way of knowing if my replies go to people - the site is acting really weird and they've made some (stupid I think) changes. So, if I send duplicate messages forgive me - or if I miss you. I am trying to reply quickly to all my reviewers.

"Sir, may I speak with you?" Jack looked up to see Captain Sophie Kinross in the doorway. He was in the small office the High Councilor had given him for his use.

"Of course Captain, come in." She moved to stand in front of him, stiff and very much at attention.

"At ease Captain. In fact, have a seat." He motioned to the chair across from him. He'd been thinking about relaxing some of the military protocol they still followed, as it seemed rather silly here. He also thought it might be a good way of introducing the idea that they might not be going home and that they were no longer part of the Air Force.

The Captain perched on the edge of her seat, still very much aware that she was speaking with a two-star General. Jack sighed, things used to be so much simpler.

"What is it Captain", he said gently. He could see there was something bothering her.

"I'm just wondering Sir", she paused. "Do you think we're going to make it home?"

Damn, he knew this had been coming, he just wished he knew how to answer. He figured the best thing would be to be honest.

With a small smile he leaned forward, trying to look more relaxed. "I don't know Kinross, but I'm not ready to give up hope quite yet. I've been trapped away from home a few times in my career and I've always made it back. I think it's still too early to say this is it."

He thought she looked slightly relieved, although not totally. That, of course, was to be expected. Until that gate opened, and they walked through it, they would all worry.

"But we may have to stay here forever, right?" At first he thought she was just sad about the thought of not going home, but when he looked at her closely, he realized that it was more than that – she almost seemed frightened.

"I'll be honest Captain, it is a possibility, but for now a remote one. I know it'll be hard, if we do, but believe me, there could be much worse places to be stuck."

Unfortunately, that didn't seem to help. In fact, she looked even more frightened. There was something going on – something more than just the fear of not ever going home.

"Is something wrong Sophie?" he asked gently. Time to pull out the 'father-figure' rather than the General. "Has something happened here?" He watched as she bit her lip and considered whether to say anything. "You can tell me, don't worry. Listen, right now I'm just Jack, okay? I'm not General O'Neill nor am I your commanding officer and whatever you say will stay between us, okay? Now come on, what is it?"

"I – maybe it's nothing Sir" he waved a finger at her and she grinned slightly. There was no way, however, that she was ever going to call him 'Jack', so she proceeded by not calling him anything. "Nothing specific has happened, and I'm probably being silly, but I don't think the Valarans like me."

He frowned, both confused and doubtful. If the Valarans were anything it was friendly. Even Paul, who could be suspicious, really liked them. "Are you sure Sophie? They seem to be a pretty friendly lot to me. Has anybody done anything?"

"No, and that's why you'll think I'm imagining things", she was starting to sound distraught. "I see the way they are with the men and they treat them really well. All the guys like them. I think some of them even have Valaran girl friends. It's just me they don't seem to like." She stopped and looked up and him and he could see that her eyes were shining, as if she were holding back tears.

"I tried to make friends with some of the women but they acted almost as if they hated me. They would whisper and make comments behind my back, but as soon as the men were present they were oh so nice. The men just ignored me or sometimes even treated me with contempt." She lifted her head and looked right at him. "I'm not crazy Sir. I have lots of friends back home and I get along with people. You can ask my teammates. I've never experienced anything like it before and I don't understand it. It makes me – scared. I think there's something the Valarans aren't telling us."

Jack looked at her for a minute before speaking. At first he was tempted to dismiss her comments as coming from a young person who was missing home and friends. But then he thought back to the various reports he'd read about Kinross and realized that he needed to listen to her. All her CO's had reported that she had a good head on her shoulders and was both steady and reasonable. In fact, she'd been up for promotion before this trip and he'd already approved it, based on Marshall's recommendation.

"Have you said anything to Major Marshall?" he asked. He would have thought her first choice would have been to speak with her CO.

"Yes", she said, frustration in her voice. "He just told me I was imagining things. He's fallen for a Valaran woman and that's all he can think about. They're so nice to him I don't think he sees anything else."

"Well, you did the right thing to tell me Sophie. I believe you and I think we need to get to the bottom of this. With your permission I'd like to tell Colonel Davis what you've told me. The two of us will keep and eye on things and see what's going on. We'll figure it out, I promise. In the meantime, watch yourself. Don't go off anywhere on your own, okay?"

"Yes S – thank you", she smiled at him, obviously relieved that she'd done the right thing in coming to him. He could also see that she trusted him to figure things out. After she'd left his office he sat down and rubbed his eyes. He could feel a headache coming on.

Later that afternoon he went for a short walk with Paul Davis and told him what Kinross had said to him. "I don't know Paul, I haven't seen any evidence of it, but to be fair, I haven't really watched their interactions with her. She's the only woman on the two teams and there never seemed to be any hint of anything."

"Do you think she's imagining it General?"

He thought for a moment. "Nooo, I don't think so, although it might not be as bad as it seems to her. She's all by herself here – I mean the only woman from earth – and so might be a bit sensitive. She's pretty level headed though so I think we'd better take what she says seriously and watch her closely. It could just be a cultural thing, although I didn't get the impression that they thought women were second class citizens or anything. In fact, they seem to have as much if not more power than men on this planet."

"General", Paul said slowly.

Jack turned to look at him curiously. Something was up when Davis used that tone of voice.

"What?" he asked shortly.

"Have you noticed that there aren't any children? I haven't seen any since we've been here."

Jack stopped abruptly; realizing that what Davis said was true. Oh, he had noticed, but Belén had told him that the children were taken to the country because of the disasters. He'd forgotten about it after that, too busy dealing with helping the Valarans or thinking about their own situation. But now that he'd been reminded he realized that it had been months ago that the disasters had occurred. Surely, by now the children would have returned.

Suddenly things didn't seem quite so cozy on Valara. God, he thought, just what he needed along with everything else! Why couldn't just one thing be simple?

"We'll have to check that out too", he said wearily. The next thing he knew, he felt a hand on his shoulder, grasping it the way Danny or Teal'c used to do.

"Jack, it'll be okay", Paul said softly. It may not have been proper 'protocol' but Davis realized that right now the General needed a friend. He had too many burdens to bear on his own. "We're all in this together, you know. You don't have to handle all of this on your own. I'm sure everything is easily explained and we'll be fine."

Jack turned to Davis gratefully. He'd always liked the man and over the last few months he'd become a real and steady friend. He was calmer and less passionate than Daniel or Sam, but he had their heart – and he was smart. He also had a quirky sense of humor that he only rarely let show.

"Thanks Paul", he said, then he gave a cheeky grin, "this means we're gonna have to do some sneaky spying you know. You up for it?"

"Yes Sir", Davis answered smartly, a grin of his own. "Sounds like fun. I've been spending too much time trying to be an engineer – I think it's time for some special ops!"

So, like two kids on an adventure, they planned out how to 'spy' on the Valarans. Oh, they weren't going to do anything too bad – it wouldn't be fair to the people who had treated them so well. No, there were basically going to just keep their eyes and ears open and see what they could discover.

It actually didn't take Jack long to realize that Kinross had been right in her assessment of the situation. The Valarans had no time for her and were just short of rude with her. When everyone was present they were openly friendly, which made her seem ungrateful and petty – which is how the rest of the teams were beginning to see her. However, Jack watched what happened when she was by herself and he was angered to see how contemptuously they treated her. He wondered what in hell was going on!

Then, there was the fact that there were no children to be seen. Jack casually asked one of the women he was working with and she got a very strange expression on her face. She repeated the line about the children being in the country, but when he pushed her for more information she excused herself, saying she needed to retrieve a tool she'd left in another room. She never returned.

Later that day, Jack received a message from one of the Valarans that High Councilor Damla was inviting him for supper. He sent his acceptance and, after working all day to get one of the computer systems back on line, he returned to his room and cleaned up. Donning some of the clothes that had been given to him (he only had his dress uniform and one pair of BDU's –which he used for working in), he made his way to Belén's home. She lived in a large house, overlooking the river. It was beautiful – surrounded by gardens and flowers. If there was one thing he could say about the people on this planet – it was that they certainly appreciated beauty!

"Jack", she walked forward, her hands held out. She took his and reached forward and kissed both of his cheeks. "It is so good of you to come on such short notice."

"No problem Belén. It's not like I have too many other places to go", he said with a soft smile. "Your home is beautiful – just like it's owner."

He swore she blushed at his complement, which surprised him a little. He'd thought her to be a bit more sophisticated and experienced. He didn't mind it though – in fact, it was rather endearing.

"Come, you must have a drink." She handed him a small glass filled with a pale amber liquid. "It is Krevassa – a very pleasant and rare drink distilled in the mountains many days from here. It is hard to get and only shared between true friends."

He took the glass, with a raised eyebrow. He was slightly flattered, but also was beginning to feel a small frisson of fear. What was she up to?"

"Thank you – I am honored." He took a sip and was relieved that it seemed both mild and pleasant. It reminded him of a slightly watered down version of Sherry. "It is excellent, thank you."

She then led him into a lounge with long windows that opened out into the garden. They sat, and for the next little while discussed the progress that was being made on the repairs.

"I don't know what we would have done without you", she said. "Already many of our systems are back on line and Rawl informs me that the crops are looking good. I think we may have averted a major crisis."

"We're glad to have helped, although your people have been great. I'm just sorry we're not better equipped. We aren't really engineers or technicians so we've kind of had to operate by the seat of our pants."

She looked at him quizzically and he realized she didn't understand the expression. "Uh, we've had to learn as we go."

"Oh", she smiled, "Yes, but you have done so well. You are a man of many talents."

"Ha", he laughed, "a lot of people would be surprised to hear you say that. I'm usually considered the 'brawn', not the brains behind any operation."

"I do not believe that to be true Jack. You try to hide your intelligence and abilities, but they are there. You are a true leader."

Okay, now things were starting to feel uncomfortable. With another laugh he turned the subject and they were soon laughing about some of the things his team had gotten up to when they'd been invited to a Valaran 'party'. It had all been totally innocent and fun, but the guys had been able to let their hair down for some much-needed relaxation. That thought suddenly reminded him of something.

Belén, I wanted to ask you something."

"Yes Jack?" she smiled.

"I noticed that Sophie Kinross wasn't invited. It seems like your people don't like her very well. Why is that?" He might as well bite the bullet, he thought.

"What?" she asked, looking extremely uncomfortable. "I'm sure she was invited. I'm afraid it's the other way around, Jack. I haven't wanted to say anything, but Captain Kinross has been very unfriendly to my people. A number of them tried to make friends with her but she refused. I'm afraid she is very – arrogant."

If there was anything he knew about the Captain, it was that she was the least arrogant person he knew. She was a favorite back at the SGC and there were very few people he knew as kind or compassionate as she was. Something was definitely fishy.

"I'm sorry Belén, but I have to disagree. I have watched her very closely over the last little while. Your people are very friendly when others are about, but when they are gone they treat her badly. It's almost as if they hate her. The Captain is a very kind woman and I'd really like to know what is going on. The rest of us have been treated well – but not Sophie." He looked at her directly and knew he was right when she looked down, unable to meet his eyes.

"I will look into it Jack", she said uncomfortably. "I will make sure it doesn't happen again." If he wasn't mistaken, there was a note of anger in her voice. He just prayed it was focused on her people and not on Sophie or on him.

"Come", she said, standing up, "enough of this. It is time to eat and to enjoy." She led him to a table practically collapsing with the weight of all the food on it. God, she was trying to fatten him up – he hoped it wasn't for the kill!

After supper she led him out to the patio to watch the sunset. Although it was beautiful, it brought a feeling of homesickness like he hadn't felt in weeks. He could barely speak, his throat tight with longing and loneliness. He missed his home, his friends, his family and would have given anything to see them right now. It was while he was thinking of them – of the ones that meant more to him than even his own life, that a soft hand touched his face and turned his head. So lost was he, in his own thoughts, that he didn't realize – not until soft lips pressed against his and arms encircled him.

Closing his eyes, thinking of someone left behind on earth, he returned the kiss – but only for a moment. With a quick intake of breath he pulled back. What was he doing? Looking at the heavy lidded expression of the woman in front of him he groaned to himself. This is not what he wanted.

"Jack?" her voice said as she moved closer. "Kiss me."

"No", he moved back again. "I'm sorry Belén, but no." She opened her eyes wide at that, confused and disoriented.

"What?" she asked, not understanding. "Why won't you kiss me?" She attempted to move towards him again. His back was against the railing overlooking the river and he began to feel trapped.

"Belén, you are my friend, but that is all that's between us. I'm not – I can't –"

"You can't what?" She was beginning to sound angry. "You can't kiss me? You can't love me? You can't make love with me? Why not? You are here now – your earth is gone along with everyone you knew. It is time you made your home here, with us, with me. I am the perfect mate for you Jack – you must know it. We were meant to be together. It has been ordained."

"Ordained? I don't think so. I'm afraid I make my own decisions about who I'm going to uh – kiss and everything. Look", he took a deep breath, "you've been wonderful, as have your people, and we appreciate it greatly. But, that doesn't meant that I – that you – that we're ordained to be together. I want to be your friend, but that's all we can be. I'm sorry if I've hurt your feelings, or given you the wrong impression."

She laughed and backed away, furiously angry. "Your people said you did not have anyone on earth, that you were not married. If you are free, why do you refuse me? I am your equal – in all ways – and we would make a fine and powerful couple."

"It's true – I wasn't 'married' – at least I haven't been for many years – but that doesn't mean there wasn't someone on earth. It's not you Belén, it's that my heart has already been given."

"But she is gone, dead, along with your earth. It is time you realized that and moved on."

Suddenly he was angry, blazingly angry. How dare she say that! She did not know – there was hope, always hope. He refused to believe that – she – that any of them were dead. He would return to earth and he would see his family again.

"I think I'd better go", he said quietly, afraid of what he might say were he to stay. "Hopefully we can remain friends – for I really do appreciate your kindness. I'm sorry this didn't work out. You're a beautiful woman and you deserve someone special." He turned to leave but her voice stopped him.

"Maybe Paul would take me?" she said, mockingly. "He is younger and also handsome. By my side he would be powerful, more powerful than you. And, he could give me many children. I hear you have no children, even at your age. Maybe you can't have them – maybe it's a good thing I will not have you. You are nothing but a dried up, useless old man, aren't you. I think I'll invite Paul over for dinner. He will probably enjoy my kisses."

How could he have been so wrong, he wondered? She was not kind at all – she was manipulative as hell. He stood and stared at her for a moment, his eyes narrowed. It hit him all of a sudden. This wasn't about love or even liking – they had a motive for their kindness.

"There are no children, are there?" he asked softly. She looked startled, and then defiant.

"No, there are no children."

"Why not?"

"The disasters that we told you about – they weren't natural at all. They were as a result of a war – a war with our enemies. We won", she said with a triumphant smile, "but years ago they released a toxin into the atmosphere. They got the last laugh after all", she said. "The toxin made all the men on the planet sterile. None of them can have children. There hasn't been a child for over twenty years. We are a dying race."

"The women?" he asked gently.

"They weren't affected. We can all bear children – if we have a mate. That is why your men are treated so well. The women are thrilled at their presence. Even the men are happy if it means the continuation of our race."

"And Sophie?"

"We don't need another woman – we have plenty, too many in fact. Until your men start donating their sperm, only a few will have children. We'd rather not have more competition."

"Until my men donate - "

"Yes, of course. We need you for our race to survive. We have treated you well, have we not? And we will continue to treat you well. Even if you are not interested in a relationship, you can still provide your seed so that we may procreate. It won't take much." Her smile made his spine tingle, and not in a good way. Crap, what had they gotten themselves into.

"So all this stuff about helping with your technology -?"

"Oh, that is real. Our enemies destroyed that as well. We really were in desperate straights when you appeared. You have been of great help … but you can do even more."

Sorry lady, he said to himself, over my dead body! Turning he walked to the door. They were in a terribly vulnerable position so he knew enough to keep his mouth shut so he simply turned and said,

"Thank you for the dinner. I'm sorry this couldn't have worked out." He looked up at the beautiful woman in front of him. "We'll do what we can to help, but please, don't try and force us. We want to remain friends."

She nodded shortly and watched as he left. It wasn't until he was gone that she collapsed on a chair and bowed her head and cried.

sg1sg1sg1sg1sg1sg1sg1sg1

Daniel looked over the dry, windswept grass and thought back to a time, not so long ago, when things had been good. When all his friends had been with him and there had been excitement and hope. Now - now there was little hope and few friends. They were gone – lost in the desolate and dark world that was the present.

"Where are you Jack?" he asked. "Why aren't you here to save our sorry asses? We need you, my friend, we need you."