Chapter 08 – Past Events
After the meeting the President had invited them to stay for dinner, which had been quite informal. Methos had told a few stories of his life, Jack and the President had discussed fishing for quite some time and Jacob talked about the newest Tok'ra gossip.
Now it had finally come to an end. Methos was content with the role he'd agreed to play in Earth's battle against the Ori. He'd play the role of the advisor when it came to tactics. He wouldn't be required to hand over the specifications of any weapons. Instead, he would assist with defensive systems. No one would be allowed to examine him, aside from Doctor Lam, and there would be no official records about his condition.
Jacob and Jack had had the easy part. Well, okay, it had been easier for Jacob. Jack had gotten bored after a few minutes and had started doodling on his paper. Both had listened as the President and Methos discussed matter after matter. From security to liberties to guarantees; everything was taken into consideration and discussed.
Just as they were taking their leave the president turned to Jack. "Seeing as your vacation has seemingly been canceled, I'd like to have you back here in Washington, to take care of some loose ends. You are not stationed at the SGC anymore. Don't forget that."
"Oh, for cryin' out loud, Mr. President, it's my vacation! I'm dying here, doing nothing more exciting than pushing paper and sucking up to people. I hate it!"
"You know that we can't afford to lose you. You're one of the only people we know of here on earth, who has the ATA gene. You know that you're only supposed to be there for meetings and on behalf of the Asgard. You jump at every chance to get off-world. You're getting older and will get yourself killed, if you don't stop. You aren't needed at the mountain right now."
Jack opened his mouth to argue back, but Methos beat him to it, "Mr. President, if I may, I would prefer if General O'Neill were back at the SCG with us. I take it you probably don't know what having the Ancient gene entails. It not only means that your descendents could be Immortals. It gives one a quicker healing capacity and, if trained, can help one use some of the powers of the Ancients. If General O'Neill could learn to control these, which I can help him do, he would be an even bigger asset – especially in the field. I don't understand why or how, but I sense that he would be able to develop more of these powers than would normally be expected. He must have been in contact with a lot of Ancient technology, to be able to attain such a high level of control of the innate powers. With that level of control available, it might even be dangerous not to teach him. He could accidentally use them at the wrong time or in the wrong way. It could kill both him and people around him. Therefore I request, that he be stationed at the SCG – at least for the time being." Methos noticed, out of the corner of his eye, that Jack looked ready to kiss him.
The president thought it over for a bit before nodding. "If it's that important, then I guess I could let him go for a while." Jack grinned. "But I still want you to turn in your paperwork, General." The grin faded slightly. "Until next time, Methos." He nodded his head to the man and held out his hand.
Methos grasped the man's front arm in a medieval handshake. "Until we meet again, Mr. President."
As they were walking out, the president heard Jack's whoop of glee in the distance. "Yes! Free of bureaucracy for a while! Dr. Pierson, you're one of the best things to have come to the SGC! I'm free!" The most powerful man in the United States had to smile. Major General Jonathan J. O'Neill might be a handful, but he was also very refreshing in the stuffy political world of Washington DC.
************
After exiting the White House with Major Davis Methos turned to Jack. "Where are we staying tonight?" Methos yawned.
"Davis set you up in the Blair House. I'll stay at my house." Looking a bit guilty he continued, "Normally I would invite you to stay with me, but I haven't been there for some time and it's not presentable."
"Hey, that's okay. I've always wanted to stay as a guest of the president. I'll bet the coffee's much better too." Methos smirked while jumping out of reach when Jack tried to hit him over the head. Jacob laughed and nodded in agreement.
"You should talk, Pierson! Your coffee can peel paint from the walls!" Jack exclaimed. He felt comfortable in Methos presence and trusted him already. 'Hm, that's different. I've never been one to trust easily.'
**************
After Davis brought Pierson and Carter to their hotel, and telling them to be ready at 0800, he drove Jack home.
"So, Paul, how are you?"
"I'm good, sir. How's Daniel?"
"Drop the sir, Paul. Danny's fine. Always talking with Pierson about some long lost cultures; at least I'm sure that Pierson isn't trying to steal him out from under my nose."
"Pierson seemed rather smitten with Jacob…" Paul said carefully.
"So it wasn't just my imagination! And it looked like our dear general was a tad jealous when you talked to Pierson!" Jack exclaimed. Both men laughed at that. They were happy and, as friends, they could talk about such things in private.
"What about you? Have you found someone?" Jack asked him while looking straight at him.
"I've been working so much that I've barely had any time to go out," Paul answered evasively. He'd fallen for someone a few months ago. But it was unlikely that he would even be able to talk to that man, as he had left this galaxy and was now residing in the Pegasus Galaxy.
Narrowing his eyes at that answer Jack's voice sharpened, "Why don't you try that again, Davis. And, preferably, tell me the truth. I don't like lies."
Sighing in defeat Paul kept his eyes on the road. "There's someone…"
"A man?" Jack interrupted his nosily.
"Yes, a man," Paul admitted.
"Who is it? It's not someone from the Pentagon, is it? You can't trust them, Paul. They'll probably try to get you fired!" Now Jack was worried. 'Has he fallen for one of those bootlickers?'
"No, he isn't from the pentagon." Paul hesitated again. He trusted Jack, but if he told him there would be no going back. And Jack would certainly tell Daniel about it.
"Tell me." Jack urged gently.
Shyly glancing at Jack he asked, "You remember Sheppard?"
"Sheppard?! Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard? The one in the Pegasus Galaxy? On Atlantis?" Jack shouted. "He used to be married you know."
"So were you and Daniel," Paul shot back, glancing at the general.
Jack sighed, remembering the events that lead to his divorce. "You never take the easy way out do you?"
"Apparently not." Paul looked back at the road.
Looking thoughtful Jack asked, "When did you meet him anyway?"
"A few hours before they left for Atlantis. We met in the corridor, as he almost ran me down. He was pretty nervous and didn't know if he'd made the right decision. We talked, he left. End of the story."
"And you fell for him right then?" Jack had never believed in love at first sight. Sure, he had been immediately attracted to Daniel, but falling for him had taken a while.
Paul looked uncomfortable "When I saw him, I thought he was gorgeous. When we started talking, I fell for him." Looking over at Jack he continued, "I know that nothing will ever come from it. But it's one thing to know here," he pointed at his head, "and another to know it here." Paul pointed at his chest.
Registering the sadness in Paul's voice Jack decided to let it rest for now. "You wanna stay the night? I can't promise you anything to eat, or even to drink for that matter, but my couch has your name on it."
Paul looked perplexed then laughed. "Didn't you tell Pierson and General Carter that your house wouldn't be "presentable"? Regardless, I accept. Thanks for the offer."
"Oh, that was just to get the two of them alone together. Maybe one of them will make the first move and they'll shag the whole night long…"
"I don't think either the general or Pierson would like it that way."
"True. But at least they could talk." Jack shrugged.
"True. Thanks, Jack." Paul smiled at the older man.
"Hey, that's what friends are for." Laughing Jack continued, "That and driving you around!"
******************
The rooms Davis had arranged for them were very nice. After drinking some coffee, they made their way upstairs. Earlier they had discovered that their rooms were connected through a door.
"Do you want to talk a bit or go to bed?" Jacob asked when they exited the elevator.
"I'm pretty beat, but I'd like to talk to you a bit," Methos replied shyly. Jacob opened his door and led Methos inside. After sitting down at the table, Methos asked, "Can you tell me how you became a Tok'ra?"
After relaying the events to Methos, Jacob asked him what he knew of Daniel Jackson's theories and why he had encouraged Daniel to keep up his work, instead of trying to stop him.
Methos talked about what he remembered of the rebellion in ancient Egypt and about what he had seen in Daniel all those years ago. Jacob sat there listening intently while also admiring the man. He, for his part, was glad to see Methos in his element. When entering the SGC for the first time, the man had told them that he had been a scholar for the past few centuries. The truth of that claim had been demonstrated earlier when he debated with the President and at that moment with him relaying the history of the Goa'uld on earth. 'How bright and alive his eyes are while talking about history,' Jacob thought with a slight sigh.
*Jacob, you should talk to him,* Selmak nudged him.
*What about?* Jacob responded.
*You have feelings for him. Such feelings are the greatest joy. Several of my earlier hosts had relationships with other Tok'ra. We could probably find a way to stay on Earth. Or perhaps he'd be willing to come with us.*
*Not so fast, my girl. I can't imagine he'd feel the same way.*
*Why wouldn't he? He seemed to like you so far. And no, your thoughts, that you are too old, won't work as he is much older,* Selmak retorted smugly. *What about the electric shock we received when he touched us? He felt it too and didn't seem averse to it.*
*I can't talk to him right now. You know it's forbidden by the US military for two men to have a relationship. And we shouldn't forget our role in the battle with the Ori. We both know that we owe our lives to Jack.*
*That we do, Jacob, that we do.*
---------Flashback------------
As Selmak was slowly dying within him, Jacob had despaired. He was glad for the extra time he had been granted, but felt as if they'd leave so many things undone…
Suddenly Jack had appeared before him. At that moment his eyes had seemed to be very old and knowing. He'd put his hands above Jacob's neck, under which Selmak was wrapped – dying. Out of the corner of his eyes, Jacob saw a faint glow surrounding Jack's hands. Slowly all of the pain seemed to dissipate. The energy Jack was giving off wrapped him in a warm cocoon of calming and peaceful light. Slowly he drifted off into a healing sleep, not noticing how Jack collapsed a few minutes later, his energy spent.
***********
When he awoke a few hours later, Sam was sitting next to him, holding his hand. He saw the dried tear tracks on her face, but otherwise she seemed fine. Her eyes lit up when she saw him looking back at her.
"Dad, how are you feeling?" Sam asked hopefully.
"Surprisingly good. Sam, what the hell happened?" Jacob sat up slowly. Quickly turning his mind inwards he felt for Selmak.
The calming presence of his symbiote surrounded him, when he heard her voice within his mind, *Calm down, my friend. I am still with you.*
*I thought I'd lost you, Selmak!*
*I thought I had lost both of us. We'll talk later. Now, you should pay attention to your daughter. She was very distraught.*
Jacob concentrated on Sam. She was just looking at him, smiling gently and waiting patiently for her old father to stop ignoring her. "Sorry, Sam, I thought…"
Sam interrupted him, "It's okay, Dad. I understand. You had to be sure that Selmak was still with you." Suddenly she leaned forward and embraced him. "I thought I'd lose you, Dad!" she cried softly against his shoulder.
"I saw Jack. Then everything is a blur. Can you tell me what happened?"
Sam gestured to the bed next to his, where Jack was sleeping peacefully. He hadn't noticed before, being so wrapped up with his daughter, the euphoria of still being alive and Selmak. At his worried look, she smiled. "The general still has some of the powers he received from the last Ancients download. He told me he'd try to use it on you and Selmak. As you can see it worked. But it cost him a lot of energy too, so he's sleeping right now." Sam was overjoyed. It had been bad enough the first time she'd almost lost him. But this second time had been even worse, since they had made up and become closer than ever before.
"What exactly did he do?" Jacob asked surprised. "I thought that the Asgard removed all of that stuff!"
"The general told us that this was the will of the Ancients. That you still have a role to fulfill and that you can't die before that." Sam remembered the confused look on O'Neill's face when he had told them that. "He was really scared, Dad. He didn't know if he could heal you, or if he'd kill you with it."
"But he didn't. I really owe him my life…again. But I wonder which "role" I'll have to play…" Jacob closed his eyes as he realized that he still had an important task before him. Even if he didn't know exactly what it would be. Then he shot back up again, as another question occurred to him, "He talked to the Ancients? I thought that they had that whole "do not interfere" policy. Doesn't this count as interfering?"
Sam smiled at him. "Daniel already asked that. Unfortunately, General O'Neill doesn't seem to know much more than us. He said it wasn't so much that he was told to do it, but more that he had an impulse to do it. He had a feeling that it was very important, but didn't know why. We just assume the reason's that you've got an important task to fulfill. Maybe the task has something to do with the Ancients? Then they wouldn't be doing it out of interference for us, but instead for themselves."
"Trying to sleep here," a weak voice from Jack's bed groused.
"General! How are you? Should I call a doctor? Do…"
Jack interrupted Sam's existed babble, "Carter, calm down. I just need sleep. Haven't really been sleeping these past few weeks."
"Sorry, sir. I'll leave in a minute and let you two get some rest." She smiled gently at both of them.
"'s okay, Sam. We'll be up strong enough soon." Jacob's eyes began drooping again. He might have been healed, but his body still needed the time to recuperate from the poison.
Sam gently stroked her father's forehead. "Sleep, dad. We can talk more when you wake up again." She kissed his forehead, before quietly leaving the room.
"Jack?" Jacob forced his eyes open.
"Yeah?" the equally exhausted individual replied.
"Thanks. I owe you one."
"Yeah. You're paying for breakfast in the morning…or whenever we wake up." Hearing this reply, Jacob slowly drifted off into slumber.
---------End Flashback------------
Three hours later Methos looked about ready to fall over, so Jacob escorted him through the connecting door to his own room.
"Good night, Methos."
"Good night, Jacob." That night, both of them slept better than they had for a long time.
***********************
At 0800 Paul drove them to the airport, as their flight was planned for 0900. After a few sly remarks from Jack, Paul left feeling lighter than before. Jack, Methos and Jacob soon took their seats and were on their way back to the SGC.
tbc
