Chapter 9:

Early the next morning, Jack and Sam were up and taking a fast paced run thru the complex. With Jack and Sam's knowledge of the complex, they completed a five kilometer run without running into a single person besides themselves.

They also used the time to explore the complex a little and learn about this new place. One of the first things they discovered was the outpost had some sort of automatic regenerative ability. As more and more systems were powered up, the complex itself came back to life and began to clean itself up and repair broken pieces. This is evident in the control in particular where Teal'c was working on translating some of the Alterran command keys with the help of Thor.

The other thing Jack and Sam found was a bay full of what looked like large cigar tubes. Sam ordered some of her people to begin to check out the bay and the ships inside. They also passed by four infirmary like rooms that they believed were treatment and isolation rooms. They contacted Janet who already knew about them and already had crews scheduled to inventory them.

They ended their room in the power control room. In the middle of the room was what the central power conduit for the complex.

"Jack. According to this information, there should be two Zero Point Modules in here to power the entire complex along with a back up unit in the Control Chair Platform." Sam said, looking at the screens.

"So I used backup power to level Anubis and his fleet? Cool." Jack said.

"Yes and also that single ZPM is powering many of the systems, which it was not meant to do for long period of time." Sam said as she tapped her in ear transceiver. "Teal'c, this is Sam."

"I am here Samantha Carter."

"Teal'c, I need a main power feed from the Generator shack on the surface brought straight to my location in the power distribution center. We are taxing the ZPM backup in the chair. If it fails, then the main weapon will be inoperable."

"I shall contact Major Longo immediately. Thor also says that with knowledge and his laboratories on his ship, you should be able recharge the ZPMs in matter of days."

"Let Thor know I'll grab these two and bring them with me. Carter and O'Neill out." Sam then closed the COM link.

"Well, shall we get cleaned up and get this day started?" Jack asked.

"Only if we can shower together. You know good for the environment and all that." Sam said.

"Of course." Jack smiled and led Sam back to their room.

General Hammond awoke at 0730 hours. Later than he normally would if he were home, but he had been tired the night before. After his morning ritual, George sat down at the desk in his suite and began looking over reports that one of aids had left for him. It wasn't anything big, just organizational red tape-just like when he launched the SGC.

George was almost complete when there was a knock on the door to his suite. Knowing the door and lighting was voice commanded George didn't bother to look up.

"Who is it?" He asked.

"Cassandra Frasier-Jackson, Grandpa George" He heard thru the door.

"Enter." He said, signing the last requisition form.

"Hey. Do you want to get some breakfast?" Cassie asked.

George thought about it the rumble in his stomach for a few moments. "Sounds good to me" He said as he left his desk and headed for the dining hall.

After breakfast, Sam headed off to work with Thor and recharging the ZPMs they had. Daniel was in the middle of reading about the complex from the database, Janet and her people were taking inventory of the medical facilities and Teal'c working on getting long range communications up and running. So this left Jack alone for the first time since he was placed in the stasis pod.

Deciding to go and see the infamous pod, Jack strolled thru the corridors until he came to the chamber in question. He entered the chamber and looked around, knowing instinctively what everything in the chamber was. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear Jacob Carter in the chamber.

"Bringing back old memories?" Jacob asked.

Jack spun around and saw who it was. "Kind of; it's just that for the first time since I was placed in one of these, I was alone."

"I know. Sam is working with Thor and asked not to be disturbed." Jacob said.

"Jack, can we talk for a few minutes." Jacob asked. Jack suddenly realized who Jacob was. He was Retired Major General Jacob Marcus Carter. Father of Lieutenant Colonel Doctor Samantha Grace Carter, host to Selmac of the Tok'ra, and not someone who Jack to have upset with him.

"Sure, Jacob" Jack said.

"I think under the circumstances, you should call me 'Dad'; Alright son?" Jacob said.

"Uh…sure thing…dad" Jack responded.

"Good come on. Show me around this place" Jacob said motioning for Jack to lead the way. "I understand that you, Sam, Daniel, and Janet know a lot about this place already."

"It's not that simple for Sam and me. Janet knows because she mediates quite often. According to Oma, Sam and I need to meditate and merge our conscious and subconscious minds. If we don't, we'll get only bits and pieces of information. Daniel, I think, needed to only concentrate on what he lost since he knew he was missing something." Jack said.

"It was similar for Selmac and me when we first blended. It took a while for me to properly do Kel'nor'eem, but once I did reach it, Selmac and I were able to merge our memories pretty easily." Jacob said.

"Yeah, Kannan and I had a similar situation, though Kannan purposefully did not completely blend with me because it was only temporary. By the way, any idea where he is?" Jack asked.

"No." Jacob answered. Jack picked up on the lie. With his telepathic abilities, he could easily tell if someone was lying.

"You know, 'Dad', I would expect some of the other Tok'ra to lie to my face. But to hear a blatant lay coming from you, with Selmac remaining quiet, well it just rubs me the wrong the way." Jack said, coming to a dead stop.

"So let's be honest with each other, shall we. Are you butt hurt that I didn't ask your permission to marry Sam? Or is it that you don't approve of me as your future son-in-law?" Jack asked.

Jacob didn't answer. It was all the answer Jack needed. "Thank Jacob. I now know where I stand with you and the Tok'ra." Jack turned and walked away. "Oh and by the way, Sara left me when I was on Abydos the first time, I didn't leave her! Get your facts straight the next time you want to dress down someone. You would think that with two brains you could do that."

Jacob Marcus Carter! What was that all about? Selmac asked.

He isn't good enough for Sam, Selmac. You and I both know it! Jacob retorted.

No man will be in your mind. I can see it just as well as you can.

That is beside the point. Jack is the reason that his son is dead Selmac. He left his service pistol out and his son blew his head off with it!

And how is that different from what Mark and Sam did when they were teenagers?

It was different because I taught them how to fire a gun and why it should never be treated as a toy.

And you only did that after Marilyn died. You know from the official report that Sara O'Neill refused to let Jack teach Charlie about guns and that Charlie, being a boy, was curious. You also know that it was Sara who left the key to the lock box out where Charlie O'Neill could find it, not Jack. It was Sara's fault not Jack's and he has never been told the truth about the entire situation.

He still isn't good enough for her! Regardless of what Sara O'Neill did to him and Charlie. He is older than she is, her superior officer and is too much like me.

But listen to yourself Jacob. You just said that no one will eve be good enough for your daughter.

No one but Jack has made her happy Selmac.

I know this, then why in the name of the great maker did you treat Jack O'Neill so poorly.

Because he is too much like me. He puts himself in danger day in and day out. He is married to the Air Force and never break the regs. I want Sam to be happy, but Jack is not the answer. There is too much in the way.

Did you not hear George Hammond last night say that the regulations that have plagued them for the last seven years have been altered so that they can be together?

Oh SHIT!

"General Carter." A young SF stood before him. Jacob didn't even realize he had been walking.

"Yes."

"Sir, General O'Neill has requested you either return to your quarters or 'get the hell off my planet'. Sir."

"Let the General know that I will return to my quarters to pack up before I return to Colorado Springs to my daughter's house."

"I'm sorry sir, but my orders are escort you back to your quarters here, or to escort back to the SGC and thru the stargate without a GDO. The General said the Tok'ra is no longer welcomed on Earth. If you need to contact us in person, you can do so thru the Alpha Site."

"I need to speak to my daughter." Jacob said defectively.

"Lieutenant Colonel Carter said to give you this if you chose to remain in your quarters." The SF said. It was only now that Jacob realized they were standing outside his quarters. "I am sorry sir, but I need to remove your weapon from your person and any other weapons you may have within your quarters."

Jacob let him take his zat and do a sweep of the entire room before he left. "Meals will be brought to you at 0700, 1200, and 1800 hours sir. There will be two SFs stationed outside your door and six more in the hallway. If you try to leave, they are authorized to shoot to kill. According to General O'Neill, you are no better than the goa'uld. Sir." The SF saluted Jacob and left the room.

I guess Jack is really pissed at you Jacob. I really can't blame him to be perfectly honest. Though I think he may have gone a little too far in regards to his statement about us Tok'ra. We'll have to speak to George Hammond about this.

It won't do any good Selmac. As the Commanding Officer of the SGC, Jack is well within his rights to ban us from the planet as per the Air Force rules.

Oh. Well in that case, you and I are in very deep trouble; to say nothing about the rest of the galaxy. You should read the letter Samantha gave you. I cannot believe that she wrote one so quickly.

I know.

Jacob looked at the front of the envelope for a moment. 'Lieutenant General Jacob Marcus Carter, Tok'ra Ambassador to the Tau'ri' it said.

Jacob opened the envelope and read the letter:

Dear Father:

Jack has just informed about what transpired between the two of you thru our link and I must say I am disappointed in you and Selmac. I thought that the snake in your head was supposed to mellow you out, not make your verbal attacks hurt even more. Yes father, those same attacks that you subjected Mark and I to when we were younger. That is the reason why Mark hates the military and you, you could just never back off.

As my fiancée, bondmate, and husband according to some planets that we have already been too, I back Jack up one hundred percent. You are wrong in your views about Jack and I. Jack is the man for me, he always has been and always will be. It is one of the things about bondmates, we are meant to be together. Period.

As for lying to Jack about Kannan: you should have remembered that Jack and I have telepathic abilities and some empathic abilities too. Jack would have accepted Selmac had not wanted you to tell us the truth, but for you to lie to him and in extension me, well that is unfortunate because now you must pay the price.

At the recommendation of the Director of Homeworld Security, the Commanding Officer of Stargate Command, the Supreme Commander of the Asgard, and the Leader of Rebel Jaffa, the President of the United of America has terminated the treaty between the Tau'ri and the Tok'ra effective immediately.

Due to your long service to the United States Air Force, you are not to be shot for treason against this country. You have been given a reprieve and so have the remaining Tok'ra in this galaxy.

Now you have two choices: One is to leave Earth never to return and when you cross an SG-Team or one of our allies, you will be shot on site. Or second, you may submit yourself to the Asgard who will transport you to the Tollan homeworld where they will remove the parasite from your body and return you to earth.

Please be advised that if you choose the second option, you will never be able to contact myself or my fiancée again or our children. Once Mark learns that you are a traitor to your country, he will probably shoot you himself if given the chance.

He may hate the military, but he is a patriot.

Selmac, I know that this sounds harsh, but we are all very upset with Jacob and especially with you. If you would have shut my father up, or even better, been honest with Jack, then this entire situation might have been avoided.

As a token of my gratitude for saving my father's life, though it saved your own as well, I have a gift you and for my father. Included in this letter are all the emotions that Jack, myself, General Hammond, Daniel Jackson, Teal'c, Bra'tac, President Hayes, and Thor feel regarding this situation. You will experience each one of them in thirty seconds. Do not try to put the letter down. Thor has treated the paper with a substance the bonds the paper to your hands for a duration of one hour. I must say that the Alterrans really know how to get a point across.

Sincerely

Lieutenant Samantha Grace Carter (O'Neill)

United States Air Force

Co-Commander of SG-1

Jacob and Selmac slowly began to feel the hate, betrayal, fear, disgust, loathing, and sense of loss from those who mattered most in Jacob's life. Each new emotion caused Jacob to whimper and cry a little more. By the time that they felt Sam and Jack's emotions, Jacob was already in tears; Selmac was mourning what they had lost because of her stupid pride, Jacob's inability to realize that his daughter had grown up, and both of their stubbornness.

Unknown to either of them, Jacob's quarters had a security camera in it that allowed Jack and Sam to watch and hear what was going on. They were also able to use the telepathic ability to listen to Jacob and Selmac 'talking' to each other.

Do you think they have learned their lesson? Jack asked Sam.

Not yet. I want to make them suffer a little more. Sam replied.

Why?

"Because Jack, my father should have been happy for us. I will grant that he had the right to be a little upset that you didn't ask him for his blessing, but honestly it should not have made any difference. Then to use the information about what Sara did to you regarding Charlie and his death… and the guilt I know you still carry…No. He needs to suffer a little. And as for Kannan, when I get my hands on him, he is dead. Three zats, no questions asked. Even if he is within a host, he is done. The host too. I am extremely pissed off."

The both went back to staring at the screen and caught a heated discussion thanks to their telepathy.

Selmac, it is not your fault! You don't want to do this!

I am sorry Jacob. I know that you love your daughter and that you spoke without thinking when dealing with Jack earlier. I now realize that I have come between you and your daughter with all the lies and all the secrets I have asked you to participate in. Jack O'Neill is right, we are no better than the Goa'uld. We just do things a little differently. With my death, you will be free to remain on your homeworld and live a life of peace and try to restore what has been destroyed.

Selmac, it is my fault. Jack is too much like me. I don't want Sam to go thru what Marilyn went thru when we were married. It is not fair to Sam to wait up at night, wondering if Jack was coming home.

But it is different with them Jacob. Samantha will be by Jack O'Neill's side in the battle field…

"I think I've heard enough. Let's get in there before Selmac offs herself." Sam said. A moment later they were in Jacob's quarters, thanks to Thor.

"Jack! Sam! What are you doing here?" Jacob asked.

"Making sure that neither you nor Selmac do anything stupid, like off yourselves" Jack said.

"How did you…you've been spying on us, and using your telepathic abilities to hear us." Jacob stated.

"Yes. Do you want to know why, Father?" Sam asked, still upset with her father for his remarks.

"Because I hurt you and I hurt Jack. I went for the jugular and I am sorry for that Jack. It's just that I still see Sammie as that little girl with pigtails and a laugh that would light up any room she bounced into.

"Jack, I want the best for Sammie and you Jack…you are the best for her, I know that without any hesitation, but you are too much like me when I was younger. When we spoke earlier, I was thinking about how I didn't want to have Sam go thru what Marilyn went thru. The constant worrying about me, whether I would be back alive, what my mental and physical condition would be, and if I would safe to be around when I did make it home. I think that stress is one of the reasons that she died."

"But shouldn't it be our decision?" Sam asked.

"Yes it should be, and as Selmac reminded me, you two are not Marilyn and me. You too will protect each other and make sure they other one comes back in one piece.

"I am sorry Samantha. And you too Jon…Jack. I am sorry for hurting you, and I am really sorry for dragging up Charlie and your first wife. It was below the belt and way out of line."

Jacob dropped his head and let Selmac take control. "I am sorry too." Selmac said.

"For too long the Tok'ra have thought ourselves to be better than all others because of what we are. We have lost sight that we do not have all the answers and that we do make mistakes which sometimes cost dearly. This is indeed a long overdue lesson that we have needed to have taught to us. Only a great race, like the Four Races, could teach it. I find it only right that the Fifth Race is the one that teaches us." Selmac bowed his head before continuing.

"Jonathan O'Neill, to answer your question from earlier, Kannan was found six months after you escaped from Ba'al. Colonel Carter, you and the other members of SG-1 were correct in assuming that Kannan measured himself against you and that is why he returned to Ba'al, to free the slave Kannan had fallen in love with. Kannan is still working for us, but nowhere near the Tau'ri. I can tell you that Jacob was very…upset and explained his displeasure with Kannan in person on more than one occasion. After seeing the bond you and Samantha share, I can understand why he feels so strongly. At the time I did not. I ask you to forgive me and I vow to do better in the future, if you allow us the chance to live. I place my life in your hands."

Jacob took back control and spoke, "And, officially, for the record Jack. If there was a man in the universe who was good enough for my little girl, then I am damn glad that it is you. I am sorry for what I said and I would be honored to have you as my son-in-law." Jacob held out his hand to Jack.

Jack looked at the hand then gave Jacob a right cross that knocked him off his feet. "Now I forgive you, Dad." Jack said as he held out his hand for the older man.

"I guess I deserved that didn't I?" Jacob asked as he felt where Jack had hit him.

I could fix this bruise, but I think we both need to remember this lesson for a while. Don't you agree Jacob?

Yes Selmac.

Jack smirked, "Just a little. Be glad I hit you and not Sam, she's been practicing with Teal'c again."

Jacob looked over to his daughter, "Sammie?" He asked.

"Just don't ever pull that kind of shit again or else you will never meet your grandchildren."

"Understood. Colonel." Jacob gave Sam a salute which caused Sam to fall into giggles.

"Hey Jack, where can we get some cake?" Jacob asked.

"You know, I was just explaining to Thor last night that cake makes all problems seem easier. Come on, let's go find some."