Flyboys, Spacemonkeys and Radar Telemetry – The O'Neill Roundup

Spacegypsy1

Chapter Seven: Endings

And remember, no matter where you go, there you are. Confucius and Jack O'Neill

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The village on the new Hak'tyl home world was alive with activity. The sun had just risen, and yet there were dozens of people setting up colorful booths and paper lanterns. Far out from the circle of the main village others set up small yurts for the visiting guests.

Horses were being curried and manes and tails braided with vivid ribbons. Children screamed in delight as vendors set up shop and the aromas of freshly-baked goods and succulent meats roasting, filled the air.

The Stargate, no more than half a click from the village center, was in constant motion as visitors and guests arrived.

Bra'tac watched in fascination, his gaze scanning the crowds for his friend. Teal'c had assured him he would arrive long before the celebration began. With a worried frown, the Master took a deep breath and hurried towards the main yurt at the far end of the village.

He took the few steps up to the platform supporting the High Priestess' tent, stopping with surprise when Vala Mal Doran exited the structure. "Good morning," he greeted her, "You are still as lovely as ever."

Vala's eyes grew large with doubt. Her hair was tangled and she wore one of Daniel's T-shirts and a pair of baggy sweat pants...probably Cameron's. "Master Bra'tac, you are losing your eyesight in your advancing age. But thanks anyway." Tooth brush in one hand and towel and soap in the other, Vala made her way down the steps and towards the bathhouse.

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Teal'c took the left side, sliding his arm under Daniel's arm pit. Jack did the same on the right. Pulling him to his feet came easily. It was the aftermath that took some effort. Half asleep, Daniel fought them. Hell, he sure was stronger than Jack remembered.

"Settle down, Rambo, we're going on a little mission. Presidential orders."

Blinking fully awake, Daniel looked from Teal'c to Jack and back again. "What?"

"Come on, Sunshine, you're holding up the mission." Mitchell was at the door, two duffle bags in hands.

"What mission?" Trying to jerk his arms free, Daniel glared at Jack. "What mission?" he asked again.

"It's a secret mission. A diplomatic mission. A mission with lots and lots of dignitaries, and some kids and horses. And your president has elected you to oversee all the important stuff and make sure everyone is happy and loves the Tau'ri and offers up lots of nice…stuff."

Confused, but intrigued, Daniel relaxed. "I need to change."

"No time, Jackson, I got what you need right here. The 'Gate's about to open and we gotta go. Orders. Not a thing we can do about it."

When they stood in front of the Stargate Daniel noticed Carolyn waiting alongside of Sam. "Medical problems, too?"

Jack answered without looking at Daniel. "Oh, ahm, yeah, there might be some need for a doctor. You know, somebody with a pain in the ass."

Mitchell coughed, and Sam giggled.

"SG-l, we'll keep the light on." Hank Landry didn't sound too pleased.

Arms still entangled with Jack's and Teal'c's, Daniel twisted his neck around and looked back and up as he was ushered through the Stargate.

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Amazed by the magnitude of the 'event' and the bright streamers, flags and festive decorations that covered the village as far as the eye could see, Daniel stopped in his tracks. Disengaging from his escorts, he took it all in.

This obviously was a very important celebration. Dignitaries from many cultures, dressed in their best, hob-nobbed around. There had to be some connection to the Free Jaffa Nation, because the Jaffa greatly outnumbered the rest of the guests.

Daniel looked down at his rumpled attire. "I need a bath, shower, something. I have to shave. Mitchell? Hand me my bag. I hope you packed something that fits the situation. This is big. Really, really big."

"Yeah, whatever." Mitchell dropped Daniel's duffle bag on the ground and took off, following Teal'c.

"Get cleaned up. You don't have much time." Checking his watch Jack nodded towards the bathhouse and trotted down the steps after Mitchell.

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Vala stood under the ingeniously crafted 'shower' and closed her eyes. The water was cool and refreshing as she lathered and rinsed her hair, taking the lovely hair comb Ishta had given her and twisting her hair up, ramming the comb in place. Half of her hair fell out, but she was unconcerned.

She heard the gasp as someone entered. Without thinking she turned, crossing one arm over her breasts and one hand went low to cover what she could. Her eyes widened in surprise.

Venus de Milo. That's all he could think of. Daniel stared, unable to turn away from the vision before him. He'd been a fool. And Jack had been right. "I'm…I'm sorry. I mean for before. Not now. It's an affliction. I think I should seek help. Because, Vala, I don't want to lose you."

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After meeting with Bra'tac and Ishta, Cam went to the yurt he'd been assigned, and upon entering, he found Carolyn unpacking. She hadn't heard him enter, and she pulled out a red satin dress, shook it and laid it out on the bed.

His heart stopped. Completely. And he couldn't breathe.

She must have sensed his presence, because she straightened her back and slowly twisted her head around, eyes coming to rest on his face.

Try as she might, she couldn't speak. Couldn't find the words to ask him what he was doing here.

He answered her musings. "Ah…I was assigned this tent by General O'Neill." Voice low and rough, with a tinge of regret, Cam waited.

Typical of Jack O'Neill, Carolyn thought. "So was I."

Cam nodded in understanding. A setup. But why? "I can leave. I can bunk in with Jackson."

"Cam?" His name sounded good on her lips.

"Huh?" The way she had said his name sent a thrill through his body, and he was all but speechless.

"Nothing. Okay, something. What happened to us?"

Moving further into the yurt, Cam grinned, eyes crinkling up, as he approached her slowly, like a lion after its prey.

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At the center of the village Teal'c stood between Isthta and O'Neill with Rya'c next to the colonel and Kar'yn beside Ishta and Samantha, all facing Bra'tac.

"Where are DanielJackson and ValaMalDoran?" Bra'tac scanned the crowd.

Ishta, blond hair flowing with intermittent braids wound with white ribbons, turned to Teal'c. "ValaMalDoran left earlier for the bathhouse."

"Uh oh." Jack looked to his right, where Carter stood. "That's were Daniel went a good thirty minutes ago."

Kar'yn, totally confused, leaned forward and looked past Ishta and Teal'c to Rya'c, who shrugged.

Sam gave Jack that look. The one that conveyed she wasn't fooled. "Where's Cam?"

Innocently, Jack added, "and the Doc?"

"Jack?"

"What?" Still holding on to his blamelessness, Jack raised a 'it wasn't me' brow.

Sam narrowed her eyes, "What have you done?"

"Okay, I think I might have overdone it a little."

"Ya think?" Sam was grinning up at him.

Bra'tac interrupted. "The ceremony is about to begin. Everyone else has gathered."

"I should go and check." Flipping the Velcro on his watch, Jack checked the time again.

Sam turned away, looking at Bra'tac with a shake of her head.

Teal'c took Ishta's hand. "Do not, O'Neill. I am happy that they are not here. It is as it should be."

Ishta had the crystal disc in her palm and Teal'c felt it, taking it into his hand. He looked at her with love and understanding and then dropped it and stomped it into the ground. "Bra'tac, my friend, proceed."

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"Daniel?"

He moved then, coming closer. His hands went against the stone wall on either side of her. Water cascaded over him, soaking his clothes. "Never again. Never. I will never come between us again. It's always been me. Always, Vala." He reached for the comb she had holding her hair up and removed it, pulling at the wet strands. Then he wrapped a hand around her neck and kissed her with every fiber of his being. With regret. And joy. And the truth of who he was, and how he felt. He kissed her endlessly and passionately and lovingly.

Vala pulled at his wet clothing, wanting nothing more than to feel his skin. He complied, assisting as best he could with his mouth occupied with words of devotion and love, all the while melding with her completely and irrevocably.

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Somehow, Cam found himself with Carolyn in his arms and his lips devouring hers. She responded in kind.

"Stay." She murmured into his mouth.

"Always, baby. Always."

Carolyn let him back her up against the bed, and reveled in the feel of him.

Lips at her throat, Cam begged. "Would you put the red dress on? I just wanna take it off of you."

All she could do was nod in consent.

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"You think they'll find us?" Vala whispered against his wet skin.

With a slight chuckle, Daniel responded, "I doubt they'll come in here. I locked the entrance gate behind me."

"Will we have to pretend? You know, like we're not…not…doing this?"

Voice rough with passion, he spoke against her collarbone, where his tongue played. "No one will care if we're doing this, a lot. Besides. It was Jack's idea."

"I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that."

"Well, how about this, comfortable with this?"

She gasped delightfully, "Mmmm, yes, very…darling…but aren't we supposed to be going somewhere?"

"I'm getting there, sweetheart."

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The wedding continued without incident, albeit shy two couples. With a satisfied grin, Jack glanced at Sam, taking her hand in his.

Staring ahead to keep from giving him any more encouragement, Sam ignored the squeeze on her hand. He was obviously very pleased with himself. Concentrating on the ceremony should have kept her mind clear of Jack. However, he was rubbing his thumb across the skin of her hand.

Neither of them realized something was amiss until both Bra'tac and Teal'c cleared their throats. "The rings, O'Neill?" Teal'c spoke low, regarding Jack with a quizzical brow.

"Oh, right." Jack began to search his pockets.

With a nervous smile Sam watched him.

"I have them here somewhere, T. I thought you did the 'Tau'ri' thing after the 'Jaffa' thing." He'd used air quotes for each word and then continued his search.

"The wreath has been placed; we are finished with the…Jaffa thing." Teal'c was frowning.

"Sure, big guy. I've got it…them. Just like you asked. Here, somewhere. Carter? What did I do with them?"

Only a slight shrug from Sam answered him.

The crowd was getting restless. "Oh, crap. There here somewhere." He was digging frantically in every corner of his pockets. "Here! Here they are." Relieved, Jack handed the rings to Bra'tac, who eyed him with censure.

A clap of thunder, followed shortly by an opening up of the sky with torrential rain, put a sudden end to the festivities and the crowd scattered, leaving Sam and Jack standing in the rain, both laughing.

He took her face in his hands and kissed her. They jumped apart when a nearby bolt of lightening struck close enough to send the hair on their arms to attention. Both turned in the direction of the strike. The DHD was sizzling.

"Please tell me that's not a problem." Jack begged.

"That's a problem." It was Mitchell who answered, standing to Jack's right, hand in hand with a wet and disheveled Dr. Lam. Mitchell was in a hastily donned T-shirt and Air Force sweat pants. Carolyn wore a red dress that apparently she'd just pulled over her head, as it was twisted and plastered to her.

"What's up?" Daniel, shirtless and barefoot, slid to a stop beside Sam. Vala crashed into his back, unable to stop on the wet grass. She looked at Mitchell and down at her matching attire, and grinned.

"I think you mean, what's down." Sam pointed to the DHD.

"Nice outfit, Vala, though I gotta say the T-shirt looks a mite better on you." Mitchell was looking down where the soaked cloth clung to her chest, and received a thump upside the head from Carolyn.

They all just stood in the rain and stared at the smoking DHD.

"It appears," Teal'c spoke calmly from behind them, "that you all may be delayed for the remainder of your leave."

"We welcome you to our home." Ishta smiled as the others turned to her. "We had already assigned you three of the yurts, they are there." She pointed far across the village to the large tents off in the distance, spread out across a small hill.

"Yep. We found them, thanks to the general." Cam nodded his head, staring up at the yurt he'd just left with Carolyn.

"There is a pond for fishing, O'Neill." Teal'c wrapped an arm around Ishta.

"And another stream for swimming." Ishta added, leaning into her husband.

"Also, there are horses for riding."

"Our craftsmen will have classes in many arts."

"The bonfire will be lit…when it dries out, perhaps in a day or so."

"ValaMalDoran has supplied us with marshmallows."

"The women will celebrate the Moon of the Goddess in three days."

"There will be singing and dancing."

Rain drenching him, Jack rolled his eyes. "Well, welcome to Camp Hak'tyl, campers."

----------If you're in a bad situation, don't worry it'll change. If you're in a good situation, don't worry it'll change. John A. Simone, Sr.

END

A big thanks to MrsPollifax for the beta work! You rock! And to childofspacegypsy1 for the never ending read throughs and my constant whining. And thanks for all the lovely reviews; they are so very much appreciated.