~#~ (Chapter 6)
In the end all four members of SG-1 gathered in the gate room with General Hammond, to see Jacob return home.
Sam stood near her father and looked sadly at the gurney waiting near the base of the ramp. Jacob noticed and moved to give his daughter a hug. "You OK there, Sammie?" he asked.
Sam sighed, "I just keep seeing him after I caught him with the ribbon device. Lying there in the dirt, where he fell. I know I'm supposed to be this strong soldier and I know I've killed before-I've had to - but this was different. I didn't shoot him with a gun, I killed him with my own power, through the ribbon device - basically I killed him with my own bare hands…" she trailed off, hugging her father tightly.
"Would it help you, Samantha, to see him peacefully at rest?" Selmak asked her.
"Oh…um…what?" asked Sam, confused by what he meant.
"Sammie," it was Jacob speaking now. "What Selmak means is that Seth looks very peaceful in there-he just looks like he's sleeping. I supervised him being placed in there myself, for security reasons, obviously."
"Oh, I see." Sam answered. "I…kinda wouldn't mind - if only to get his shocked face out of my mind, every time I close my eyes. If that's really OK with you, I mean."
"George?" Jacob queried.
The General agreed, "As long as Captain Carter is sure, then it's fine by me."
"Thanks, Sir, I am." Sam assured him.
Jacob leant over and gently unzipped the top third of the bag. He then peeled it open to reveal the pale face of the former system lord.
Sam moved over to her father's side and gripped his hand. "You're right, he does look like he's sleeping. He looks so peaceful," she said quietly.
Jack, Daniel and Teal'c hung back to allow Sam to have a moment with her thoughts. Jack then moved forwards, placed a supportive hand on her arm and gave a gently squeeze. He then stepped back and stood with the General.
Teal'c moved forwards and looked down at the body of Seth. He clasped his arm to his chest and bowed his head. Like Jack before him, he then moved aside so Daniel could also view the body.
Daniel took a tentative step forwards and took a guarded look at the body of the man who had so upset him the day before. Tears came unbidden to his eyes and he blinked quickly in an attempt to stop them falling. When he realised he was failing in this he quickly turned and fled the room, leaving General Hammond gaping at his retreating back.
"Damn it," Jack whispered under his breath. He went to follow the younger man, but before he moved he remembered that he hadn't been dismissed.
With worry clearly audible in his voice, the stunned General asked, "Colonel, what in heavens name was that all about?"
"Oh…sorry. Sir, I should have thought…" Jack replied distractedly.
"Thought what, Colonel?" the General asked.
"Oh, well, Sir," the Colonel explained. "The thing is old Seth here reminds Daniel of his father. Seeing him again now, I can really see what he means as well. He could be Melburn Jackson's long lost brother. He looks just like him."
"Does Doctor Jackson need to see someone - a psychologist maybe?" the General asked.
"Well, Sir, you know what Danny thinks of shrinks - he's got too much history with them. We had a good old heart-to-heart last night" Jack told his CO. "We looked at some photo's of his folks, told some stories, that sort of thing and he seemed a lot better this morning. I can't believe I just let him walk up and take a look in there. That didn't need to happen and I'm sorry, Sir."
"Not your fault, Colonel. Go find our young friend, take him home if you need to. Come back in the morning, when all this…" he waved his arm in the direction of Jacob and the gurney. "…will be gone."
"Thank you, Sir, I will." Jack replied. "Goodbye, Jacob. I'll see you around."
"Bye, Jack. Look after Daniel, he's like a second son to me…well to more than one of us I'd imagine." He added, looking at General Hammond, who nodded discreetly.
"OK," said Jack. "I'm going. The resemblance is uncanny though. Could be a long lost cousin something…"
With that, Jack left the gate room, determined to track down his distraught friend.
Jacob sighed heavily and resealed the body bag. His head dipped and Selmak surfaced, "The last thing I wanted to do was upset Doctor Jackson," the Tok'ra said sadly. "I thought it would offer some closure to Samantha, I did not think that the other members of your team may become distressed by what they saw."
Sam slipped her hand into her father's one and gave it a squeeze. "You couldn't have known, Selmak. None of us could…apart from the Colonel maybe."
"Don't worry, Captain Carter. When I next see Colonel O'Neill, I will be speaking to him about that." General Hammond promised her.
"Dad, do you suppose it would be possible to send us some samples for DNA testing? It may help Daniel if we can show hard evidence that Seth's host was in no way related to him. If it turns out that he was a long lost cousin or something…well, we'll have to deal with that if it happens."
"Colonel Carter," Teal'c spoke up. "Would it not have been possible for MelburnJackson to have fathered a child before he was betrothed to DanielJacksons mother?"
"Of course it would, Teal'c…Oh, I see what you mean. The host is, or at least was, about the right age to be an older sibling to Daniel. The Colonel seemed insistent that the likeness was uncanny and, even though I only saw Daniel's parents briefly, he does look familiar. I remember from the Gamekeepers recreation that Daniel got most of his looks from his mother. Another son, from a different mother, could have taken his fathers looks instead."
"Indeed," replied Teal'c. "Would your deoxyribonucleic acid test not indicate that possibility also?"
"Yes, Teal'c, a DNA would. Whoa, I can't believe we're even standing here discussing this. I'm so glad that Daniel isn't here, he'd be mortified." Sam said, suddenly feeling guilty discussing Daniel's family so openly. The archaeologist was a very private person, rarely discussing his life outside of the SGC with anyone other than Jack.
"I'll get some samples to you, sweetheart." Jacob told her. "…and don't you worry, I'll be discreet. I might come along for a visit when things calm down a little, I can call and see Mark and the girls again at the same time."
"Thanks, Dad. Does everyone agree that we keep this from Daniel for the time being? At least until we have some results." Sam asked the others.
"A sound plan, Captain Carter. There's no need to upset the young man any more than is necessary." General Hammond agreed.
"Indeed." Teal'c also approved. "I too will refrain from discussing this matter with DanielJackson."
"Thanks, both of you." Sam said.
"Time's getting along, George." Jacob reminded him. "Selmak is getting anxious to get back."
"No problem, Jacob," the General told him, and turned to the control room and called out, "Dial the gate."
Moments later the gate began to spin.
Sam turned back to Jacob who gave her a last hug. "See you soon, Dad."
"Sure thing, Sammie," her father agreed. "I'll be back just as soon as I can."
The wormhole established with its usual kawoosh and Jacob slowly manoeuvred the loaded gurney up the ramp and into the shimmering event horizon. He turned and gave Sam a quick wave before stepping thorough himself and disappearing.