Notes: Sorry for no updates in ages. Laptop hard-drive and the nice tour of the UK it went on before I got it back. Anyway, about Teal'c family; we'll be getting to them, but they aren't on Earth, so give it a while. Thank you very much for the supportive reviews!


Rei lay on her bed, lights dimmed, still somehow managed to read the book she held in her hands. The book was merely a distraction. She had been welcome in the Jackson household, and Belle's mother had treated her as if she were one of her own. But despite laughing and smiling and trying to keep things the way they had been, Rei hadn't missed the times when Belle had stared at her, as if she were studying her. So far, she had little evidence to piece together, and the lack of information frustrated her beyond belief. But displays of anger and stubborn behaviour were not in her nature, so she remained silent, withdrawing to her room when she thought her absence wouldn't be noticed as out of the ordinary. Hearing a knock at the door, she sighed and dropped the book, "Come in." If it was Annika she would only tell her to leave right away anyway. Not that her sister would listen.

"Just wanted to come see how you are, make sure you didn't think I was a figment of your imagination after all the time spent away these couple of weeks," Sam poked her head round the door, hesitant to enter, "You okay?"

Rei sat up and nodded, "I'm fine," she stated, not wanting to elaborate on her current state of mind.

"Annika says you've been up here for most of the evening," she closed the door behind her.

"I had some reading to catch up on."

"If Annika had said those words, I'd believe them," Sam sat down beside her daughter, "What's wrong?"

She knew she wouldn't win by lying. Making up a story when her mother always knew when she was lying. She wasn't good at deception, "…Do you know Isabelle Jackson?"

Her mother blinked, stunned for a moment, "…I met her last week…" she answered.

"How?"

"…Her mother works on the base with me."

"That would explain why you're her godmother then?"

Sam stared, "Rei, what's-"

"I know a Belle Jackson and her family. I also know Jason O'Neill, who, for some reason, switched off and practically ran from me when he discovered my mother's name was Carter," she elaborated, trying to provoke a response.

She remained silent, suddenly staring down at the floor. She should have known her past would come back to hit her again. But not hit her, hit her eldest daughter, who was already tangled up it in, for reasons she couldn't fathom.

"Why is a Doctor required in a base that studies deep space radar telemetry?" Rei pressed, "And what was Belle doing on a military base?"

"We use a lot of scientific equipment there, its easy for people to hurt themselves," Sam replied, evasive.

She looked up at her mother, noting she wouldn't quite look her in the eye. Rei sighed and looked down, "…Why lie to me, Mom? What are you all protecting me from?"

"I'm not lying to you, Rei," Sam insisted, "There are just some things that you don't have to know."

"Like why one of my friends suddenly hates me because I'm related to you?"

Sam recoiled, "…That was harsh…"

"Mom!" tears shone in the girl's eyes, "I don't ask a lot of you! I put up with all the time you're gone, I don't argue when you tell me we have to move, I look after the others when you and Dad aren't here, and I accept I'm not the brilliant child like Annika, but I can't fit in here unless I know what suddenly makes me so different! I just want to know the truth! Gods, Mom, I just want to have a life! I love you and I'd do anything for you, but if you wont even tell me…"

The Colonel stood up and moved to the door, hiding her eyes so her child wouldn't see her own tears, "…I…I'll tell you tomorrow. I'll tell you what makes you so different. But don't hate me when it might be more than you can take," the door opened swiftly and shut quietly.

Rei stared at the closed door, before she stood and crossed the room, reaching out and laying her palm flat against the wooden surface. Silent tears streamed down her face as she heard her mother's quiet sobs on the other side of the divide.


She entered the classroom silently, taking her seat and sitting staring into the near distance. She managed to block everything out when a familiar voice called out to her.

"Rei? What's going on?" Belle wandered into her line of vision, "Why're you ignoring us?" she gestured to herself and looked over at Jason, who looked away as soon as Rei glanced across to him.

"…I'm not, Belle," she answered softly, "…I just need…some time to think…"

Belle refused to leave her alone and perched on the edge of her desk, "You and me both," she said quietly, "At least its art and we get to talk right now," she frowned, "You forget to bring something to sketch?"

She cursed silently, "…Yeah."

"Me too," she shot her friend a grin, "At least I'm not the only one," Belle looked back across at Jason when she saw him pulling a bronze device from his backpack. Eyes wide, she hopped down from Rei's desk, running back to his, "Jay, tell me that's not what I think it is," she hissed, frantic.

"Relax, Belle, its not like anyone can use it," he answered in a whisper, placing the device on the desk before him.

"That's not the point! How did you get it out from the base?" she continued.

"Walked?" Jason shrugged, "They're not going to miss it. Its not as if anyone needs it. Its just an artefact now."

"Jason O'Neill, your parents are going to kill you…"

"Not if they don't find out," he shot back, "it'll be back by the end of the day," he lay out the five fingers of the device on the table before him, "and you gotta admit its something pretty decent to draw."

"You are whacked in the head!" Belle exclaimed.

"Consider it an O'Neill trait," he sighed, seeing Rei staring straight ahead again, vacant expression on her face. Against his better judgement, he called out to her, "…Rei? Come see this."

"Jay…"

"Belle…"

Rei stood, slowly, and walked over to his desk, barely able to hide her blush, "W-What is it?" she asked him, "…I…maybe I should…I mean…maybe I should go…" she uttered.

Unable to find the words to reassure her, and not quite sure he wanted to, Jason just held up the device, "Neat, huh?" he said, tone neutral.

She held it, supporting it with both hands, "…Wow…I've never seen anything like this before…"

Belle remained silent, glaring at Jason.

"…Looks like finger holes…" she continued, slipping her hand through the swirl of gold, the rounded points fitting into place on her fingers, "…Guess they are…"

Belle shook her head, "Rei, maybe you shouldn't…" she gasped when she noticed the look of anticipation on Jason's features.

Rei jumped as the circle in her palm sprang to life, glowing orange, "…What the-"

"Rei, put it-"

"Shit!" Jason swore aloud.

She swung round to face him, crying out as energy shot from her palm and blasted him, and his desk, back and to the floor. The room fell silent, all eyes on Rei. Thankfully, they hadn't been fast enough to see what had actually happened.

Belle stood over Jason, anger flashing in her dark eyes, "That's for insulting Nikki!" she shouted, trying to make out she had pushed him.

Rei ripped the device from her palm, dropping it, shaking.

Jason weakly looked up at her and Belle, "…At least now we'll get some answers…" he muttered, before he passed out.


"O'Neill," Jack answered the phone in his office, "Jay's school? Put them through," he stated, "Hello?"

"Jack, we've got the location of Satra's next 'audience', daughter included," Daniel burst into his office.

The General held up a hand, silencing him, "Jay was knocked out? By what? Isabelle Jackson? You're kidding me! She's his best friend!"

Daniel stared, "Belle did what?"

"She and Rei Shanahan?" he continued. His expression darkened as he heard the surname of the other girl involved, "Right. Well, obviously he can come home. I can't get there right now. I'll send someone over. Janet Frasier has permission to remove him from school, along with her daughter. Rei Shanahan? I don't know a-"

"What's going on?" Sam joined them in his office.

He covered the phone with his hand, "Your kid's in trouble, Carter. Along with ours."

"What?" she frowned.

"I don't know. Something about a fight. You wanna go get her?"

"Yes, Sir," she nodded.

"Go get the Doc and head for their school," Jack answered.

"Yes, Sir," she ran from the room, confused.

"Rei Shanahan's mother will be with Isabelle's," he informed the school official, "Thanks for informing us," he put the phone down, frowning.

"Belle did what?" Daniel repeated.

"…Knocked Jay out…"

"Okay, all credit to my eldest…but she couldn't knock Jay out if she tried…"

"I know…"

"Rei? Janet says a 'Rei Shanahan' was round ours last night. She's friends with Belle and Jay," Daniel made an attempt to explain, "…They ganged on up Jay or something?"

"'Why?' comes to mind," Jack answered, "I don't know, Daniel. But I know Belle couldn't-"

"And wouldn't."

"Knock Jay out."

Daniel sighed, "…Sam's kids don't know about the SGC…"

"Hence sending Carter to get her kid."

"Jack?"

"Yeah?" he mumbled.

"Don't blame Sam for moving on…" the archaeologist began.

"Daniel?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't start now."