As promised (I think…dang troublesome memory!) here's the update! My plot bunnies are multiplying thick and fast, pepples…;)

-ALKG!- once again, my computer won't put in the line break. -glares at computer-

CHAPTER SEVEN

Several Weeks Later…

Daniel was sitting alone at the lonely observation deck that overlooked Myrell's room. He had told General Landry and the rest of SG-1 about Soimal's visit and the information he shared, but the only thing it accomplished was to make everyone extremely wary of Myrell; they weren't quite sure what to think of her. She wasn't just a girl who could walk through walls anymore; she had the potential to be very dangerous. And her abilities did seem to be expanding – that was the reason for the 24-hour surveillance. Once she blew out the power to the entire half the base…in her sleep.

Daniel, why must you stay up there? Can you not come down here again?

Daniel sighed. Myrell always spoke to him when he was up here, even though the glass was only one-way. She seemed to be able to sense when he was near. And, oddly enough, so could he. He remembered when he was fighting Jonathan when Myrell woke up, when he felt amusement but didn't know why – that had been Myrell. Right now she was feeling rather cranky and bored. Daniel didn't know whether it was their strange connection or just his frustration with the others for being unable to trust Myrell, but he was feeling the same way. He visited her in person as often as he could, but he did have other duties to attend to (cataloguing, translating, researching, etc.). He usually compromised by taking a surveillance shift when he had paperwork, but Myrell was very lonely.

Daniel?

He realized he hadn't answered Myrell's question. He checked his watch. 11:13 pm.

Why aren't you asleep? He asked.

You are not.

You should sleep.

I have nothing to do but sleep! Sleep and explore…if I did not have to stay in this room, I would feel much better…

'Explore?' How?

I can see into other people.

Daniel's interest was piqued. There was just no limit to Myrell. Now she could not only speak into your mind, but she could read minds? Just the people on this base? Or can you 'see' farther than that?

Only people I have seen before. Those last words were laden with loneliness. She was sitting cross-legged on her bed, staring up to where Daniel was sitting. Daniel sighed and polished his glasses. Something had to be done…

oooo

"General, I'd like to ask you a favor."

General Landry looked up in surprise to see Dr. Jackson in his doorway. The man had a very earnest expression on his face; it must be important. "Certainly. What can I do for you?"

Daniel hesitated before he spoke. "I'd like to request permission to take Myrell into Colorado Springs, sir," he said quickly.

Landry's eyes widened. "May I ask why you would like to do such a thing, Doctor?"

Daniel stepped closer to Landry's desk, now that Landry hadn't simply dismissed his proposal. "She's been locked up in that room ever since I brought her here, sir. She's not a prisoner, and we shouldn't treat her like one."

Landry leaned back in his chair and studied Daniel for a few seconds. He still moved gingerly with his almost-healed ribs as he shuffled his feet. His expression was hopeful. Landry wanted to say yes…he trusted Jackson. And God only knew what to do with the girl. He certainly didn't.

"If you're worried about me being able to control her, sir," Daniel said, cutting in on Landry's thoughts, "it'd be fine. She does whatever I tell her – she's told me the only reason she actually stays in her cell instead of going someplace else is because I told her not to. I trust her, sir. She trusts me."

"You do have considerable influence over her," Landry commented. Daniel nodded quickly. "You are the only one she communicates with," he added. Daniel nodded again. The expression on his face was borderline painful; the suspense was agony. Landry sighed. What could he do? "Go ahead, Dr. Jackson."

"Yes!" Daniel hissed, pumping his fist in the air like a little kid. "Thank you so much, General!"

"Hold on there, Dr. Jackson!" Landry shouted, and Daniel froze in mid-bound out the doorway. "I just want to remind you that you have sole responsibility of her. If anything happens to her, especially given the information Soimal gave us…"

"I understand, sir," Daniel said quickly. Landry smiled at Daniel's excitement.

"You may go now, Dr. Jackson," he said. "I sure hope I did the right thing," he sighed as he heard Daniel's shoes patter away down the hallway.

oooo

Daniel glanced at Myrell as they drove out of the Cheyenne Mountain complex into the small city at the mountain's base, Colorado Springs. Myrell was gazing in rapture at the falling snowflakes that disintegrated the instant they collided with the windshield of the car.

What is this? She asked excitedly.

"Snow," Daniel said, taking a right turn and entering the city's downtown. "It's frozen water," he explained further. Daniel parked his car and checked out the surrounding shops and attractions, trying to decide where to take her first. Myrell was practically leaping up and down in her seat with exhilaration.

Sam had gone shopping for her the day before (so she wouldn't have to wear Lt. Gressler's spare camos anymore), and had picked her out jeans and a perky three-quarter sleeve sweater in shades of blue for Myrell. Sam had also lent her one of her jackets, and Mitchell had pitched in as well and donated a much-loved (or, well-worn) old army cap of his. When Myrell was dressed in these clothes she looked much more her age; in the dim light of Jonathan's castle and her regal dresses, Daniel had guesstimated Myrell to be at least twenty, but Dr. Lam had concluded from her bone scans that she was closer to seventeen or eighteen.

Daniel's eyes fell on a small coffeeshop down the street. Its windows (which were decorated for the holidays) glowed with a cheer light, and Daniel could even hear the bell over the doorway jingle as each customer entered or exited with steaming cardboard cups in their gloved or mittened hands. Daniel grinned at Myrell.

"Want to try some coffee?"

Kah-fee? What is it?

"A drink. Really tasty. What am I thinking, of course you'll want some coffee…"

oooo

By the end of the day Daniel was exhausted. Myrell had wanted to visit every single shop and every single building. It had been fun, admittedly – yet exhausting all the same. Myrell evidently was feeling the effects of the day as well; she was already asleep in the front seat of the car as they wound their way back up the mountainside to the SGC, with a trophy Beanie Baby Daniel had bought her that day peeking out from her inner jacket pocket. Daniel's face saddened as he parked and turned off the car. During the day it had been easy to forget who and what Myrell was. It had been so blissful – as though he had been treating a daughter or niece to a day around town. With the shadow of the SGC looming over Daniel's car and blocking the starlight, the knowledge that the sleeping girl next to him was destined to become inexplicably tangled in the affairs of the Ori was not only disconcerting, but saddening.

"Come on, Myrell," he said gently, tapping her shoulder to wake her. "We're back." Daniel tried to shake his mood as he led a sleepy-but-happy Myrell back to the base.

Mmmmm…I love peppermint tea. It was the first type of tea I ever had, my 4th grade class had a "Victorian tea party," lol. My family keeps threatening to go off coffee completely and switch to tea, but I won't go that far! Although caffeine does have an insanely long half-life.

END OF CHAPTER

angw: -heh,- I was wondering if I should put in a bit of romance for Daniel…idk tho. I was planning on Daniel being an extremely close friend, and having Myrell fall for someone else most Stargate fans are acquainted with...

I'm actually debating with myself about the status of Myrell's parents. The way I had figured it out in my mind was that Myrell's parents were Ascended/Ancient and she volunteered to help the humans when the Ascended made the decision to do so, so she was de-Ascended. That would explain her unusual appearance on Jonathan's planet and her lack of memory. I think I am still going to stick with that explanation. But the thing is, time is not linear for the Ascended. Which means to get to point C you don't actually have to pass points A and B first. Which means she could have been born a thousand years in our future. Which means her parents could have "gotten together" at any time…and that's the only hint I'm giving :D

johnno53: sorry! No, I'm not ending this ficthingie anytime soon :D I put "end" in there because my computer wouldn't allow me to insert the line breaks, and I didn't want the story to run into my A/N. I think I did that accidentally in a couple previous chappies. actually, every time I write up a chappie I get new ideas as I go over points of the plot. I've already inserted new points, and more are getting added all the time…and a few are reviewer-inspired. so the story is always changing…:D

-morough-