See chapter one for disclaimers.
Apparently my life didn't get the memo that I have a freakin' story to finish. (Grrr.) Sorry 'bout the delay, guys.
My Andromeda
by Mabyn
Jack felt her growing nearer with every breath he took. He heard the gentle fall of her footsteps and her muted conversation. Perhaps Doctor Kierken was not dead, not entirely. He squinted towards the doorway.
"There she is," Daniel muttered, gathering his notes. He looked closer and added, "Who's with her?"
A small wiry man with untamed white hair walked beside her between an escort of Ferra. He seemed decidedly out of place in his tweed blazer and worn loafers, his shirt partially untucked, his glasses slightly askew.
"That's you in thirty years," Mitchell said, glancing askance at Daniel. "Must be a time machine in there or something."
Daniel ignored him, but glowered when he heard Teal'c chuckle softly. Peering closely at the man, he said, "I think that's..."
"Doctor Kierken," Jack supplied.
Mitchell turned from the approaching entourage to Jack. "Thought you said he was dead, General."
Jack nodded. "He is."
"Looks pretty good for a dead guy," Mitchell mused, rubbing his chin. "Unless he's a zombie."
"In which case," Teal'c said, palming his zat, "he will not get far."
Mitchell cocked an eyebrow. "You've seen Shaun of the Dead how many times now?" he asked.
"Six."
"He's ascended," Daniel said suddenly and turned to Jack. "That's the only explanation. He died and ascended."
"Maybe," Jack told him. He shouldered his pack and began walking towards Sam. "Come on. Too much speculation makes me hungry."
"But we're not supposed to--" Daniel began to protest, but was cut short.
"It's all right now," Jack called over his shoulder.
Daniel frowned. "Why now?" He watched Jack as he covered the ground with long strides, wanting to follow, but still wary of Sam's earlier warnings. "How do you--" he began, but cut himself short, a slight scowl crossing his face. "We gotta work on our communication," he mumbled and pushed his hands deeply into his pockets.
"Wish you had a book or a piece of pottery or something," Mitchell sighed, appearing beside him. "Something you could translate and share with the rest of the class."
Daniel regarded him for a moment, his eyes narrowed. "You're serious."
"Hell, yeah," Mitchell told him. "You get so excited, you can't help babbling on about it. Granted, we gotta put up with a lot of babble to get to the pertinent stuff, but it's generally worth it."
Watching Jack as he approached Sam, Daniel said, "Sam's usually that way, too, though."
"Yeah," Mitchell agreed, "but since going all Ori Destroyer, she's not too keen on the babble."
"Is there a reason we are not following General O'Neill?" Teal'c asked, his eyebrow cocked as he regarded his teammates.
"Just makin' sure no big-ass Ancient laser cannon appears and blasts him to pieces," Mitchell told Teal'c over his shoulder. "Sam gave us some pretty heady warnings before."
"Yeah," Daniel added. "Reminds me too much of The Neverending Story when Atreyu confronts the Southern Oracle."
"Do you not believe yourself worthy, Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c asked, a small smile flickering across his lips.
"Worthy, yes," Daniel told him. "Willing to risk being fried to prove it, no."
Teal'c nodded and audibly exhaled. "Then we are in agreement."
Mitchell nodded. "Good to know."
"Yep," Daniel said. "When it comes down to it, we're all just a little bit chickenshit."
"Indeed."
Forta whickered softly as Jack approached, his long legs easily brushing the tall grasses aside. Without looking up, Sam felt his nearness like an enveloping breeze, sweet and deliciously subtle. She said nothing, but kissed him soundly as they met.
"Glad to see you, too," he said, his lips quirked in a small smile. Turning to Doctor Kierken, he added, "I see you found a friend."
Sam nodded and turned to the doctor. "Doctor Kierken, meet General Jack O'Neill."
Doctor Kierken grasped Jack's proffered hand. "Your corvus," he said. "I've heard much about you. Through the grapevine; not just from Colonel Carter."
"Oh, don't believe everything you hear," Jack muttered, adjusting his hat. "Just the good stuff."
"Will do," the doctor said, smiling, the deep wrinkles of his skin reminding Jack of an old elm tree. It seemed to him that the doctor had just awoken from a centuries long sleep; his eyes were sparkling, refreshed, his gait energetic, his gestures lively. The old man was past sixty, possibly seventy, yet he had the spirit of a man a third his age. He, of course, attributed this to Sam. After all, she had reverted his knees back to their youthful selves.
"Where to now?" Jack asked, turning to Sam. "An appointment of intergalactic significance? A rendezvous with destruction and peril? Or perhaps a nice coffee break."
She smiled, but shook her head. "I can't tell you."
"You know how I feel about surprises."
Sam gazed past him to their friends ahead. "You can't go with us," she told him, her voice soft and remorseful. "None of you can."
"That's what you said last time." Jack smiled and tried to make her meet his eyes. She wouldn't and his gut twisted.
"This time, it's true," she said. Finally, she willed her gaze to match his, their blue depths tumultuous and frostbitten. "If you followed me, I'd lose you," she whispered, her palm reaching up to cup his cheek. "I couldn't bear that. Not yet." She paused a moment, her eyes distant. "But part of you can come," she said at last.
He frowned, wary. "Which part?"
He found her soft chuckle heartening, and the smile that flitted across her face warmed him. "Your mind," she said.
"Oh, that," he said, brightening. "Take it. Hardly use the thing anyway."
She tried to look admonishing, but failed, her face cracking in a smile. As she removed her engagement ring, Jack couldn't help uttering a sound of protest. But the look she gave him calmed him and his interest piqued when she placed the article in her palm and stretched her hand towards him.
"Locum vestra trado mei," she said and he could see her silently chastising herself, struggling for words he would comprehend. An audible breath rushed past her lips and moisture lined her eyes as she reached for his wrist and placed his hand over hers. Her skin was softer than he remembered and he was suddenly aware of his callouses.
As her eyes slipped closed, Jack could see the tension ease from her body. Then he frowned. The ring grew warm under his hand, as if it were a smoldering coal near death. And then the warmth permeated his skin and enveloped him; they were the only ones alive in the universe and he reveled in it. She spun images before his eyes, emotions, sensations of such depth it was like he had never felt or experienced anything prior to this moment with her. And then he fully realized that she knew everything. He gasped as his mind reeled under the sudden influx of hers, and his eyes flew open and he tumbled into her gaze.
"Perfecta," she whispered, reluctantly drawing her hand from his and placing the ring back on her finger.
Jack shook his head slightly to clear it. "That was cool," he told her, looking from her to his hand, his fingers still tingling where he had contacted her skin. "What'd we just do?"
Sum in vestra mens quod vos es in mei. The words were disembodied, but he clearly recognized Sam's voice.
"Whoa," he muttered, his hand flying to his head. "How'd you--"
Auditum mea sententia.
"Really?" he asked, his eyebrows bowing under his incredulity. "The stuff I'm hearing is what's going on in your head?"
She smiled and shrugged. Non tota.
"Good call," he told her. "Hearing everything in your head would probably make me a crazy man." His eyes narrowed a bit and he asked, "Can I―Can you hear what I'm thinking?"
Sam nodded, but then wavered slightly on her feet, one of her arms stretching towards him. He grasped her to his side and gasped―an armada of elephantine ships, white as pearls, destroyed a world he had never before seen. He heard distinct screams, though they echoed, bouncing off the chambers of his skull.
"The Ori," Sam gasped, her fingernails biting into his shoulder. "We must go. Now."
Jack immediately looked towards the rest of SG-1; the land seemed to blur for a brief moment and he blinked purposefully to clear his vision. His mouth gaped when he opened his eyes. They were at the foot of the Stargate. SG-4 and Captain Caise were with them in various states of confusion.
"How the--" Mitchell began, turning in place. "...hell." He looked to Sam, his eyes shifting. "So, if you could just―zap us there, why'd we have to walk to that Aedes Luma place?"
She ignored him. "You must go," she managed to whisper, her fingertips cradling her head. "Tell General Landry what has happened. Doctor Kierken and I will rejoin you when we're able."
"Hey, whoa," Daniel said, taking a step towards her. "You're not gonna try to fight the Ori on your own, are you?"
"We have to," Sam told him, her frustration mounting. "And the longer you insist on arguing about it the more difficult the fight will be."
Daniel opened his mouth to protest, but then thought better of it.
"We all will do what we must to defeat the evil in this universe," she said. "You have done all you can while at my side. Your belief will continue to sustain me." Her eyes closed a moment before opening wider than oceans, her pupils flashing a brilliant blue as the Stargate sprang to life, the light of the event horizon shimmering across her features. "Now go," she told them, her voice harsh and grated.
Her eyes fell into Jack's. Amata si, Corvus, she told him and sent him the image of a long, lingering kiss between them. Exspecta mihi, amata mihi.
Jack nodded and swallowed harshly. I will. And then he turned from her, his eyes on the ground as he stepped through the horizon.
"Incoming wormhole," Sergeant Harriman called as the first chevron burst to life. As the iris unfurled, his hands blurred over his keyboard, his brow knit. Below him in the embarkation room, the defense teams sprung to action.
"Sergeant," General Landry barked, appearing suddenly at the sergeant's elbow. "Get that iris closed!"
"Attempting to, sir," Harriman told him, scowling at the computer screen in front of him. "But the computer isn't accepting my--"
The IDC box flicked to the screen. Harriman frowned. "Sir? I think it's SG's 1 and 4."
"You think?"
Harriman indicated to the screen in front of him. "There's no IDC, sir, just a message."
"What's the message say?"
"It's SG's 1 and 4."
Landry sighed, but chuckled to himself. "Thank you, Sergeant."
"Yes, sir."
As Landry began descending the steps towards the embarkation room, he grimaced--Colonel Thad Mathers stood at the foot of the stairs, his smirk, permanently affixed the General thought, firmly in place.
"An incoming, sir?" Mathers asked, his voice an innocent tenor, but Landry knew better.
"Yes indeedy, Colonel," Landry told him as he brushed past, the Colonel all but striding on his heels. "SG's 1 and 4 are enroute."
"Excellent," Mathers said, smoothing the front of his shirt. "I'm looking forward to meeting Colonel Carter. And seeing General O'Neill again, of course."
"Yeah," Landry said. "Jack is quite the character,"
Mathers nodded. "I hope he's able to put aside his personal feelings regarding Colonel Carter. It'll make my job a hell of a lot easier."
Landry chuckled. "I'm sure it would." Turning to the Colonel, he couldn't help smirking as he added, "But I wouldn't bet on it."
Any reply Mathers might have had was eclipsed by SG-1 clomping down the ramp, followed closely by SG-4 and Captain Caise. Landry frowned. "Jack, you're one short."
Jack turned and surveyed the SG teams. "Doh," he muttered as he turned back to Landry. "Knew I forgot something."
"Where's Colonel Carter?" Mathers asked, deep grooves wrinkling his forehead. "I thought she accompanied you on this mission."
Daniel, Mitchell and Teal'c stopped short and regarded Mathers', their suspicion neatly concealed. "She did," Mitchell told him.
"She's currently saving the universe," Jack said and checked his watch. "She was, however, kind enough to pencil me in for dinner tonight." Turning to Landry, he said, "Hope that won't be a problem, Hank."
Landry smiled and shook his head. "Not at all."
"Good." Jack turned to Mathers', openly assessing him. Mathers' shifted slightly under his superior's scrutiny. "And who, may I ask, is this fine gentleman?"
"General O'Neill, Colonel Thad Mathers," Landry said and noticed Jack's sudden shift in demeanor.
Mathers, however, remained unaware of Jack's immediate disdain. "General, sir," he began, "it's an honor to finally meet you." He extended his hand.
Jack looked at Mathers proffered hand and then the man's face. "I'm sure it is," he said, his eyes cold and Mathers' hand withered back to his side. Turning to Landry, Jack said, "I suggest we debrief now, General."
"Certainly," Landry said, gesturing towards the side exit. When Mathers turned to follow them, Landry stopped him. "This briefing is for SG's 1, 4 and myself only."
"But I'm supposed to--" Mathers began.
"Supposed to assess Colonel Carter's condition," Landry said, his voice hinting at his frustration. "Yes, I know. But Colonel Carter isn't here."
"Sir, aspects of her current condition will be discussed, I'm sure," Mathers argued.
"And you'll be made aware of any relevant information, Colonel," Landry assured him. "I have no intention of interfering with a presidential order." After searing him with a final, warning look, Landry turned and strode towards the briefing room.
"Yes, sir," Mathers mumbled, far too low for anyone to hear.
Hopefully the next chapter won't be so long in coming.
