Unification

by MicheleB

Continuation of Anunnaki. If you haven't read Anunnaki, you won't understand this sequel. These stories are three-somes with Jack, Daniel and Sam. The universe comes calling at Jack's door.

10. Chapter 10

In High Places
Unification Chapter 10
By Michele
Rating: PG
Summary: the kids are feeling rambunctious, there's a problem in DC, and Jack has the world in the palm of his hand.

Having one Jackson pissed-off in the morning was bad enough, but there were two pissed-off Jacksons. First, Jack insisted that Daniel have an escort when he went back to Kalam to buy women, then Stacy glared at Jack from a seat in the principal's office when he and Sam went in summoned by the school.

"They were picking on him, so I punched them," she informed her parents. "They told Davy we were all going to hell because of you, daddy, and mom. All Davy did was ask them why they were scared and they pushed him down. Three against one isn't fair."

"Couldn't you have gotten a teacher instead?" Jack asked.

"There wasn't one around," she said. "And by the time I went inside and came back out, they would have beaten the crap out of him."

"Why was there no supervision?" Sam asked Mrs. Herbert.

"Schools are short-staffed," the principal said. "If someone needs to go to the restroom, the kids may be left alone. But it isn't for long," she stressed. "We can't be in two places at once."

Jack considered offering to clone her.

"I'm sorry, but policy states that we do need to suspend them for fighting," Herbert said.

Sam shook a finger. "No," she stated. "Because of your lack of supervision, our kids were forced to defend themselves. They shouldn't be punished for it. Punish the ones who started it."

"They will be," Herbert said. "Colonel Carter, I allowed Dr. Jackson to talk me into forgoing suspension once before. I must insist that the letter of the law be enforced. Three days suspension."

"I think we're going to attend the next school board meeting," Jack said. He ushered the kids up and to the door.

"General?"

He turned back to Herbert who had the grace to look uneasy in calling his attention back to her.

"We've been unable to locate Mrs. Bosco or the colonel."

"The colonel is off-world. We'll take Jessica with us," Jack stated. They rounded up the unhappy girl on their way out through the outer office. Jack took out his cell phone.

"Kearney, find Mrs. Bosco and have her call me. Don't scare her, it isn't an emergency."

There were seven other kids all sitting in unhappy silence, waiting for parents to show up. Jack and Sam had been on their way to work when Jack's cell phone rang with the school calling. Daniel had already left through the gate, taking a thrilled Ronnie with him. Daniel was not happy about the SG-1 escort, though, and Jack was sure he would be hearing about it when Daniel got home from his female-buying trip. Jack hoped the Ra'batinu women appreciated this because Jack sure didn't.

"Ok, start from the beginning," he said, looking in the rear-view mirror at the kids in the backseat.

"Bullies!" Stacy declared. "Three of them cornered Davy and started shoving him around and talking about you."

"Uh huh. David, tell me what happened," Jack said.

"I asked them why they were scared of us and they hit me," David said softly.

"They're scared? Of what?" Sam asked.

David shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "They told me we were going to hell because you and daddy and Uncle Danny all live together and do things together. Grown-up things. They said it was bad and we were bad because we live with you. I didn't understand so I tried to feel, like daddy does. They were scared so I asked them why. That's when Billy hit me. Stacy ran and hit him back. She did a really good hit right on his mouth."

Jack considered whether or not it was a good idea to allow the children to be hanging out with alien warriors.

"And other kids came and helped," Stacy said. "Like Jessica. She doesn't hit good, but she helped." Stacy gave her friend a pat on the hand.

The adults looked at each other. They couldn't punish the kids for defending themselves, and they couldn't punish Stacy for staying with David instead of running to find a teacher. David could have been seriously hurt by the time a teacher made it out to them. But they needed to do something.

"David, a lot of people are afraid of changes and they're afraid of people who are different from themselves," Sam told him. "I know that doesn't make much sense, but it's how things are. I'll bet the boy who was most afraid is feeling changes inside himself and that's what made him afraid. If it happens again, try and run away and find an adult."

"Aunt Sam, can I learn to fight?" he asked. The two in front looked at each other.

"Are you sure, buddy?" Jack asked. "It's hard work." The boy was sensitive and still physically weak from his childhood of allergies and not being able to eat the foods that would have made him strong.

"Maybe something like Tai Chi?" Sam suggested quietly. Jack nodded.

"That's a possibility," he said. "Buddy, how about I take you to the gym after work and we'll talk with Major Bryce. See if someone can set up time with you? Ok?"

David was a little happier. The more Jack thought about it, the more he acknowledged that something like Tai Chi might help the boy; it was a low stress discipline, it would teach him focus and balance, and it just might strengthen his muscles. It would certainly help him to find self-confidence.

They dropped the kids off at home, told Jerrie they were house-bound, and left again for work. Jack answered his phone again as they went through the security check-point. He listened to Maj. Kearney.

"Is she alright? I'll contact the SGC. No, leave Vinnie in school; Connie will be dealing with enough, there's no reason to take him out of class."

Jack tapped his ear piece and it disconnected.

"Connie had a miscarriage," he said quietly to Sam. "Kearney said she'll be fine. He found her on the floor and called 911."

"Should we keep the kids for a couple days?" Sam asked.

"We'll see," he said. "I'll have to see if the colonel can be recalled, and find out what he wants to do."

Sam nodded. "I'll call home and have Jerrie prepare, just in case."

Jack pecked her mouth and they parted at the stairs. Jack went to his office and Sam took the stairs down to her labs; Sheppard should already be down there, getting tested by her crew. Jack was in his office for just a minute before backing up and looking at his admin's desk.

"Where's Abigail?" he asked Cassandra.

"Becoming Mrs. Hammond," she told him. "They eloped."

"They what?" Jack's eyebrows went high into his short-cropped hair.

"Eloped," Cass repeated. "The general said he'd have her back next week. You and Paul get to share me, unless you want me to find someone from the pool."

Jack shook his head. "No, we can share. Don't let Harper get any ideas," he said.

She leaned forward, sparkling mischievously at him. "And deprive you of your half of my wedding? I wouldn't think of it."

He sighed and perched on the edge of the desk. "Alright, how much of a hit is my bank account going to take?"

"Well, my dress is $5,000, so I think your half comes to $7,000," she told him. "Since Daniel and Sam brought me through the gate, though, I think Daniel should share your half. Don't worry, we're having the chicken dinner."

Jack groaned. "God. We have three more daughters at home to get married. I'm going to die destitute."

"Maybe, but with good memories of walking all of us down the isle," she told him. "Although, I think Daniel will want to walk Stacy. And you are going to dance with me, right? You're the closest thing I have to a father, and the father is supposed to dance with the bride."

Jack smiled and leaned forward, pecking her cheek. "You got it, honey." He stood and turned around again. "Oh, and Jonathan sends thanks for the entertainment and said he'd be happy to sing at your wedding. He expects a dance, too. Paul also wants him to sing, and is making a CD for him to learn. If you want specific songs, make a CD and I'll send it through along with Paul's."

"And if I ask you to sing, too?" she questioned, teasing.

"I fear I will be having throat problems on that day," he told her as he walked into his office.

"You're a chicken, Jack!"

He turned his computer on and found the email with all the pictures Sam had sent from her digital camera. He gathered his favorites, and emailed them out to a select few who might enjoy seeing the new grandchild. He found the photo quality copy paper, printed out his favorite, and pinned it to the wall next to the rest of the family pictures.

"You're playing grandpa to Jonathan's adopted son?"

Jack glanced at the doorway.

"Just for that, I'm cutting you in on a third of Cassie's wedding bill," he told Davis.

"I'm getting married, too," Davis protested.

"You're wedding dress isn't costing $5,000."

"I take it you had a good time?" Paul asked, coming in and sitting in front of the desk.

"Mmmmm….slightly interesting, would be more appropriate." Jack straightened a frame and sat down. "Colonel Sheppard has the Gene."

"Yes, sir, I saw your email," Paul said. "I wasn't sure if you were joking or not. He's really making the toys work?"

"He's downstairs now, with Sam," Jack nodded. He took the pendant from around his neck and held it out. Paul took it, looking closely at it. "That thing lights up for just me and him. He found about 12 of them and they activate different systems on Atlantis. Paul, there's some sort of difference between my DNA and others who can activate devices. We've run across a few things that will activate with just me, and now Sheppard. Others with the genes can activate other things, and regular joes can use the rest of the equipment. Like ordinary appliances and weapons."

Paul turned the pendent over between his fingers, thinking as he looked at it.

"You and Col. Sheppard can activate this, which seems to be a master key for Atlantis," Paul said thoughtfully. "People with the genetics can activate other things, like the chair and some of the lab equipment. People who have had their DNA boosted can also activate things. General weapons, everyday things, can be used by anyone. Like the Stargate. Lab equipment can be used by anyone, probably because the Ancients needed the general public to be trained as lab techs. So, what's the difference between you and Sheppard, and the others with the gene? That's a good question."

They went down to the lab and watched Sam and her techs putting Sheppard through the paces. They made him touch things while taking notes on whether or not anything happened. Once in a while, something opened a secret panel and the techs excitedly took out whatever was in the hole. They couldn't turn the things on but Sheppard could.

"That doesn't make sense," Sam declared, exasperated. "Why would the Ancients key something to certain people?"

"Maybe it's like a lock," Paul suggested. She looked back toward them. "I can give the combination to you, but not to everyone because I don't necessarily trust everyone."

"But that doesn't seem to do anything," she said, pointing at the flat thing in Sheppard's palm. Jack took it from Sheppard, looking at it. It was almost the size of the small compact mirror that Sam carried in her purse. He could sense that it was on but nothing was happening.

"It's out of context," he said, turning it over. "There is something this works with, and that something isn't here."

"Ok," Sam nodded thoughtfully. "But what could it work in conjunction with that would make it….. Boggs, doesn't the chair have a slot about that size?" she asked one of her techs. "There's a slot on the side that we haven't been able to identify."

"We can test it easily enough," Boggs said with a shrug. Jack went to the mikku control chair, sat down, and found the slot. The thing fit perfectly. Everyone stood back, waiting to see what would happen. A holographic image appeared in the air before them.

"It's a recording disk," Sam murmured. "But why….?"

"I'm not understanding a word," Jack said, listening to the woman speaking.

Jack stood from the chair. The image shut off.

"Sam, why do you think the colonel and I can use certain equipment but others with the gene can't?" he asked. "Do you like this personal lock idea of Paul's?"

She thought about it and shrugged. "It has merit," she said. "If that's the case, maybe this recording is of someone high on the Ancient council. The information could be classified."

"But why are our Ancient genes different from others?" Jack persisted, jutting a thumb at Sheppard.

"We don't know yet," Sam confessed. "I tried Inanna's genetic scanner on Col. Sheppard and it worked great. In five minutes, it spit out an in-depth analysis that would have taken a month by our methods. His genetic sequence is the same as yours. The Ancient part of the sequence, I mean, not the family DNA. When I compared them to Capt. Boggs, it was only a partial match. Like long lost cousins."

Jack pulled the disk out and tossed it from one hand to the other. "Did you find any more of these?"

"Not yet," Sam said. "We have most of the equipment cataloged; most of it is lab equipment and weapons. Colonel Sheppard is just getting started. He's touching things, seeing is anything lights up for him that didn't for anyone else."

"Yeah, a few of these things we have on Atlantis," Sheppard piped up. "Lots of lab stuff. McKay and Beckett are in raptures over it."

Jack took the pendent and gave it a stroke. He pressed a few words but nothing happened.

"It's possible that it's keyed to Atlantis itself," Sam suggested. The earpiece in Jack's ear buzzed quietly and he tapped it.

"O'Neill. Who? Where is he? Just keep him on ice, I'll be there shortly." He disconnected. "Sam, get into dress blues, get Sheppard a zat, and meet me at Alvin."

"What's Alvin?" Sheppard asked as Jack walked back to the stairs with Paul on his heels.

"Senator Friedman has a snake," Jack said quietly to Paul as they walked to his office.

"He's close to the president," Paul noted. Jack nodded.

"Long time buddies," Jack commented. "A roaming guard with one of the spotters caught him and got a few marines to quietly corner him. I'm getting a little pissed at snakes showing up, colonel. Call Nick, tell him what's going on. Hold the fort."

Jack put his dress uniform on, hid the pukku under his coat, and headed out to the field where Sam, Sheppard, and four SF were waiting.

"Can I drive?" Sheppard asked when Jack arrived.

"Maybe on the way home," Jack told him. They boarded and Jack got Alvin into the air before telling them what was happening.

"Where did he pick up a symbiote?" Sam asked.

"We can ask him when we get there," Jack said. "Major, how's Mrs. Bosco?"

"She's fine, sir," Kearney said. "Colonel Bosco returned just a short time ago. He was at the hospital when I called to check in on Mrs. Bosco. She was on her way to a D&C, she'll be kept overnight for observation, and sent home in the morning. Colonel Bosco said he'll pick up Jessica from your house on his way home. He said he'd call, sir."

They were in DC moments later, and walking calmly but swiftly past the small crowd at Andrews who had gathered to stare at the al kesh and its famous pilot. Jack left an SF and told him to give the local pilots a tour of Alvin, if they wanted. They were then taken to the White House by Marine One and escorted through a private entrance down to a holding block under the building. Hayes, Maynard, and the Joint Chiefs were waiting and watching a closed circuit monitor.

"Jack, how the hell could this happen?" Hayes asked the moment they entered.

"Let's find out," Jack said. "Colonel, with me." He and Sheppard left and soon entered the holding room. Jack held out his hand and the guard placed the MRI spotter into it.

"Yup, he's infested," Jack said, seeing the symbiote's skeleton. He showed Sheppard. "Any last words?" Jack asked the symbiote. "Didn't think so." He took the pukku out and handed it to Sheppard. "Colonel, that is a pukku. It's the only one we've managed to find, so don't drop it. Now, point it at the snake and blast away. Don't worry, it won't harm the host."

Sheppard twitched as he aimed and 'fired' while Jack watched through the spotter. When the senator collapsed, Jack gave a thumbs up to the people watching.

"Didn't we want to interrogate it?" Maynard asked as medical staff rushed in.

"Waste of time," Jack said. "It would only lie to us and confuse the situation more."

He stopped the paramedics and bent over the senator just before they left.

"Sir, do you remember where it came from?" Jack asked him.

The senator shivered in shock.

"I…It happened….in Florida," Friedman managed to say. Jack nodded and the medics took him away. He took the pukku back and holstered it.

"Very cool," Sheppard said, jerking his chin to the pukku.

"Isn't it?" Jack agreed.

"Gentlemen," Maynard warned, looking from one to the other.

"Once the senator calms down a little, we can get more out of him," Jack said. "Until then, I'd suggest backtracking his movements in Florida and find out where he's been and who he's been in contact with. There's probably an unexplained dead body somewhere in his path."

"Now, didn't I read a report that says the host might retain some of the memories of the symbiote?" Hayes asked. Both Jack and Sam nodded.

"Yes, sir, but they might be a little sketchy," Sam said. "I remember bits and pieces of Jolinar, and more sometimes emerges when I'm with Tok'ra who knew her. Senator Friedman probably has a lot to share, once he regains his senses."

"I have a few of Kanan's memories," Jack said. "I've probably blocked out most of them because he pretty much forced himself on me just before Baal tortured the crap out of me. It wasn't a pleasant union. Sirs."

"Anything interesting?" Sam asked, curious.

"Not that I'd consider interesting," he said. "He was really a little on the uppity side; felt I was too beneath him to share. I got a few images of tunnels, that's about it. He was a Tok'ra."

"Could we focus, please?" Maynard requested with exaggerated patience. "Goa'uld. Senator Friedman. Are there more?"

Jack sighed and held up a hand for silence. He forced himself to center and send out his awareness. Stay open, he reminded himself as the sense of hundreds, maybe a thousand or more people rushed through him. The internal noise was like standing in the center of a large stadium while fans shouted, clapped, stomped, and whistled. Jack staggered and was caught by Sam and Kearney.

"No, wait," he said. "I'm ok. Let me try it again."

"Try what?" Hayes asked.

Jack sat down and tried again. Use your spyglass and look at the crowd a small section at a time, he heard Ninurta saying in his head. Jack gave it a try. He pictured DC on a map in his head and roamed his senses around it, one section at a time. He felt someone silently screaming and followed it. His eyes popped open and he jumped to his feet.

"Get us into your private suite," he ordered Hayes. "Actually, you should be under guard. General Maynard, we need the president in his bunker until this is dealt with."

Maynard didn't question him; he ordered the marines to keep the president under lock and key. Jack ordered Kearney to stay with them and zat anyone who tries anything. Maynard led Jack, Sam, and Sheppard to the private suite by way of a hidden elevator.

"Talk to me, general," Maynard said once the doors closed.

"Mrs. Hayes."

Maynard turned to him. "You better be damned sure."

"I'm damned sure."

Using hand signals, Maynard and Jack sent out orders to the nearby marines and secret service. They immediately scrambled, guns drawn. Jack held the pukku, gave Maynard his zat, and quietly entered the suite. The woman at the table was studying papers that were spread out. Maynard glanced at Jack. He held up the MRI and gave a grim nod. Maynard took responsibility and zatted her. She toppled to the floor. Jack held the pukku to her and got rid of the snake. Maynard and Jack gently lifted her and took her into the bedroom, laying her on the bed.

"Why don't I stay with her?" Sam suggested. The men felt that was a good idea and shut the door behind them. Maynard puffed noisily and paced the livingroom.

"Will she be alright?" he asked Jack.

"She will," Jack confirmed. "She'll have a major headache, and I do suggest counseling. The press will find out that something's going on, so I also suggest that she have the flu and is on ordered bed rest." He opened his cell phone and dialed. "Leslie, Jack O'Neill. Is Tony around? Yes, he needs to be interrupted. Thanks…… Hey, Tony. Jack. I need you right away. High level security situation. I'll send my ride for you. DC. I wouldn't be calling like this if it could wait. Go to my private office and someone will be waiting for you. Yes, it's that important."

He hung up. "I'm having my shrink brought over," he told Maynard.

"Jack, the president and Mrs. Hayes can't see just anyone," Maynard told him.

"Dr. Edmonds is my shrink," Jack emphasized. "Believe me, Francis, he knows things I can't tell you." He redialed. "Dr. Edmonds is on his way to my office. Put him on Theodore and bring him over here. Bring Nick with you, too, if he's in town. Marine One will meet you at Andrews AFB. Oh, and call the SGC and get Daniel on the line. Tell them to patch him through to my cell phone."

"Where's Dr. Jackson?" Maynard asked.

"Off-world," Jack said. "He's negotiating for three women and their kids."

"General O'Neill," Sheppard called for his attention. Jack ignored Maynard's questioning stare and went to the table. The papers contained lists of government personnel and their positions. There were several lists from other countries, also lists of people who didn't seem to be connected.

"Gertrude Waite?" Jack questioned, picking up a paper. "Who is she?"

Maynard frowned and took the paper from him, scanning the list of names. "I've never heard of these people," he admitted. Jack took the list and snapped a picture of it with his cell phone, and then emailed it before dialing.

"I just emailed you a picture of a list of names," he said. "Take a look and tell me if you recognize any of them. Yeah, I'll wait."

"Colonel Davis and his rottweiler are getting handfasted; you coming?" he asked Maynard. He then frowned at his phone. "I'm talking about you, not to you," he said into it.

"On what planet?" Maynard asked.

"This one," Jack said. "At their house. Jonathan is coming in from Kalam to do the music. Oh, if no one told you, General Hammond eloped with my admin. They'll be back on duty next week."

A dark eyebrow lifted. "Isn't Ms. Frasier also getting married?"

"In the Fall," Jack confirmed. "And I know she isn't eloping because she's making me and Daniel pay for her half of the bill. Thankfully, we have many more years until our oldest is ready. At least, it had better be many more years. If that frackin' Tok'ra goes anywhere near her…… Wait, let me put the speaker on." Jack hit a button on his phone. "Go ahead."

"I don't recognize any of these people," Nick admitted. "Where did this list come from?"

"It was on among other lists of names that one of the people Edmonds is coming to see had."

There was a pause. "Other than the person you originally went to see?"

"Correct."

"Interesting. How many?"

"Just two. So far."

"What were the other lists?"

"Heads of state, family, people close to them."

"Then I am willing to bet that this particular list contains people who are also close but who do not move in political circles," Nick said. "You'd be surprised at how many people in high places speak openly with the janitor. We should be there in half an hour. Dr. Edmonds checked in and is on his way here."

"If the White House is clear, the president should be brought in and allowed to tend to his wife," Maynard suggested. Jack gave the building a sweep and nodded. His phone beeped at him and he switched to the incoming line.

"Put him through," he said. He considered his options and changed to Goa'uld. It seemed to be easier, the more he used it. Maybe he listened more closely to Daniel and Jaffa than he thought he did. "No, stay there," he concluded. "There really isn't anything immediate for you to do, and Nick is on the way to help with tracking. I'll call her. How's negotiations? Use whatever you need, just don't bring home more wives, please."

Hayes was brought to the suite, looking white and angry with fear for his wife.

"Where's Judy?" he demanded. "Is she alright?"

"She's resting," Maynard told him soothingly. "Sir, we need you to look at this list and tell us if you know any of these people." He handed the paper to Hayes who thrust it away.

"Sir, there is nothing you can do for Mrs. Hayes at this moment," Jack said. "This is what we need for you to do."

The president glanced at the paper and began to deny knowing anyone.

"Hal Montoya," he said, pointing to a name. "He's our gardener, at our family home in Boston."

Jack made a notation on the paper. "How long has he been with your family?"

"Since the kids were in diapers," Hayes said. "What is that list?"

"We're not sure," Maynard said. "The symbiote was looking through these papers." He showed the table scattered with paper to Hayes. The president looked them over, his brow creased in confusion.

"I recognize a few names," Hayes commented. "None of these people have a say in decision making, though."

Jack dialed the number Daniel gave him. "Ronnie. Jack O'Neill. I need you to do some research for me. Daniel is off-world, he said to ask you. I need you to find out if anything weird has happened at any digs within the past few years or so. Start local and then spiral out. I don't know. Unexplained deaths, people with missing time, missing people. You know –weird. I need it yesterday. Go to the SGC and get Dr. Lee or Nyan to help you. You are officially on the clock, so report back to me. Get me results within two hours and I'll let you go on the next off-world geek-fest." Jack paused and then shrugged. "Sure, I'll introduce you."

Hayes had gone into the bedroom, to his wife's side. Sam politely moved to the doorway to give them space. Maynard was quietly talking with her. She lifted her zat and was apparently explaining to him how it worked.

"No, sir," she said with a shake of her head. "Like the ships, they require naquadah."

"We don't want these things in the hands of our enemies," Jack said. "Forget nukes; they'd be zatting each other out of existence."

"What do you mean?" Maynard asked. Jack took the zat, looked around the room and picked a chair. He gave it three zats and the chair disappeared. Maynard slowly nodded; comprehension dawning.

"That's why you've been careful about who uses them," he surmised. "Yes, it wouldn't do to have an assassin get a-hold of one of those. Jack, that was a 200-year old chair."

Jack looked at the empty space. "Don't tell Daniel."

Davis arrived 45 minutes later with the expected party in tow, plus a few others.

"I took the liberty, sir," Paul said, nodding toward the four men who followed them in. HomeSec's first team, T-1; Jeffries, Spurlock, Lopez, and Jablonski. "They are prepared to escort the president out immediately, if needs be, and the Daedalus is in a high orbit over DC."

Jack nodded. "Good thinking, colonel. Tony, I'm glad to see you. Did Colonel Davis fill you in?"

"He did, Jack, thanks," Edmonds said. Jack stuck his head into the bedroom and then motioned for Edmonds to follow. He introduced Edmonds and Hayes.

"This man kept me sane all these years, Henry," Jack said quietly. "He's fully briefed on all things alien and he's dealt with hostile take-overs before. Let him do his job. Please."

Hayes looked Edmonds in the eyes, his own expression grim. "That woman has been my wife for 33 years, doctor."

"God willing, it'll be 33 more, Mr. President."

Hayes gave a nod and stepped aside.

"Nick, have you come up with anything on those names yet?" Jack asked the moment they were back in the main room. Nick was looking over the rest of the papers and glanced up.

"I made a few calls on the way over," Nick said. "So far, we have a nanny, a cook, a best friend, and a librarian. They all have close ties to heads of state on these other lists. This took time, Jack. How long has Mrs. Hayes been infected?"

Jack cocked his head. "Infected. That's an interesting way to put it. I like it. And we don't know. I can tell you this, though; if all those people on that list are infected, we are in deep shit."

"I doubt Inanna will help," Sam said thoughtfully. "She's expecting you to pick up the job. But that doesn't mean you can't get help. Does it? You need someone to help you scan; you're not strong enough yet, I can see the headache from the first try on your face. I'd suggest Zu, but he's minding Erra."

"No, leave Zu where he is," Jack said. "Listen, if I need to learn this stuff, I need to learn it. Enki said my head hurts because I'm resisting." He paced, making noises as he thought, and rubbing the side of his head. "Ok, maybe a map or a globe for me to focus on."

Nick perched on the edge of the couch, unconsciously leaning toward Paul. "When you disintegrate a symbiote in someone, does that person get that extra protein? Like Sam has?"

Jack wasn't the only one who paused. "That's a good question," he said. "We have…. Colonel, how many people have I …disinfected?"

Paul thought about it. "On this world? Very few, sir. If you're thinking about using them to sniff around, I'd suggest calling in a few Tok'ra. The Jaffa would be too noticeable with their markings."

"As a last resort," Sam put in. "Ja…General…. I'd be interested in seeing what you can do with that scanning thing if you're sitting under the mikku while it's pointed at the planet."

"That's a good one," Paul told her in admiration.

Jack asked Maynard and Hayes to be excused. Jeffries and Lopez were left to escort Dr. Edmonds and to assist Maynard, if help was needed, while Spurlock and Jablonski were sent with Nick who on his way to talk with Senator Friedman and find out if he remembered anything. The men would stay with Friedman until Edmonds cleared him.

Moments after Alvin landed in HomeSec's backyard, they walked quickly down the stairs to the lab. The techs slowed in their work as they spotted the general hustling into the mikku. Sheppard watched and then peered over Jack's shoulder.

"How come the chair at Antarctica doesn't do that?" he asked, gesturing to the holo-map.

"We think this chair was made for a specific purpose," Sam commented as they watched Jack swing the mikku around. She told him about the mikku and its partnership with the pukku. Hearing of the quiet commotion, Cassandra came down to watch.

"Jack, Ronnie couldn't get you on your cell," she said. "She said Senator Friedman was at a luncheon last month. In Florida. He visited a dig that was being picketed by Seminoles. They were objecting to the dig because they claimed it was on sacred ground. The ground was not on reservation land, however, so the dig was allowed to continue. There was apparently a threat from a self-proclaimed shaman who told Friedman that evil would take his soul if the dig were allowed to continue. One of the diggers turned up dead a few days later. Ronnie also said that she's turned up three more dead diggers at other sites. Morocco, China, and Chile."

"Call Paul and tell him," Jack said, concentrating on the image in front of him. "Nick's with him and they're talking with Friedman."

Cassie turned.

"And make sure Ronnie comes in to sign hiring papers," Jack said. "There's a contract outline on my computer. Get her over to Keir and have him start teaching her the details of HomeSec. When he's done, get her to Inanna for some hands on with the council."

"Security level?" she asked.

Jack thought about it. "Six. For the moment. And she isn't to make any decisions, yet; she's only taking notes and keeping me updated. Sam, what's the first location on that list?"

"England."

He took a deep breath and centered himself, not looking forward to it. Using the holo-map to guide him in real-time, he forced himself to center on London. Without meaning to, a marker appeared on the map the moment Jack identified a possible host.

"Ok, that was easy enough," he murmured to himself. "Does this thing take notes?" A small screen came up in the corner but….

"It's hooked up to our computers," Sam quickly said. "Our computers are translating it." She touched a screen close by. Jack glanced at it and saw the translation coming on. He settled back into it and began to spiral out until he covered the UK. Two more possible hosts were spotted.

"Ya know," Jack muttered as he scanned the map. "If Inanna hadn't been so busy with tribal wars, maybe she would have spotted all this starting and dealt with it then so we wouldn't be dealing with it now."

"And if Inanna had dealt with the Goa'uld, humans wouldn't be populating the stars and we'd still be earth-bound."

Everyone turned.

"Hey," Jack grunted, pressing two fingers to his temple. "Did you unload the new wives?"

Daniel frowned in reprimand. "I freed three women and their children, yes, Jack."

"That was fast," Sam said, sliding an arm around his waist and giving him a squeeze.

"The newest commodity on Ra'batin is chocolate," Daniel proudly informed them. "Buy stock in Hershey's. What's Jack doing?"

"Giving myself a migraine," Jack said.

While Jack continued his scanning, Sam filled Daniel in on happenings. The information about the Florida dig interested him and he excused himself.

"I'm going to Florida!" Daniel called from the stairs.

"Take a team with you!" Jack called back just as he decided what to do with their problem. "Sam, call Col. Caldwell and let him know we need to borrow his ship. I want you and Sheppard to get up there. Start beaming these people up and put them in the brig for the moment. Do it quietly. Beam in, beam out. If they don't already have a tag. Tell Hermiod if he has a better way of doing this, he needs to speak up now."

It took the better part of the day to cover North America and Western Europe. After several hours, no one could get Jack's attention. He had shut his eyes and was unresponsive but the map kept marking targets, so people assumed that he was ignoring them. Jack pushed himself to sense his targets, sweeping through cities with the sound of rushing waves through his ears. It seemed to get easier, the more he allowed his mind to stretch out. He knew he was hearing hundreds of different languages, actually sensing them as opposed to hearing them, and he understood intent if not meaning. Was that what Daniel heard? The cacophony of sound was harsh. One by one, he picked out inner voices that silently screamed out to be heard. Jack heard them and the mikku routed the information up to the Daedalus' computers. People at governmental offices, secretaries, clerks, messengers, someone's favorite waiter, were all abruptly taken in a beam of light. Urgent phone calls to police began to filter in with insane messages of alien abductions and armageddon. Only a handful of people knew what the beam of light was and put themselves quietly on alert, waiting to hear from HomeSec. He didn't know when it was, but at one point he could no longer identify his own self among the crowd. He had become the world.

When the world brightened again, Jack found himself shaking and in incredible pain. He was flat. It sorta looked like a ceiling. Someone wiped his face with a cool cloth.

"Come on, Jack, I know you're back with us." Enki?

"Ppp…..ain…," Jack managed. Cool hands touched his head.

"I know it hurts. When you decide to do something, you don't hold back, do you?" It sounded like Enki….. "The pain is from the initial reaction. Part of your subconscious was resisting and it created stress on your body. Once you are completely unresisting, the pain won't happen anymore." Hands touched his head and Jack thought a small amount of the pain went away. "You had us worried. Next time, don't try becoming the entire planet."

Jack could sense the genuine worry in the old man and was touched.

"Hey, you." Sam. Jack tried opening his eyes. It hurt, so he shut them again. He did see Daniel next to her, though. Soft lips touched his forehead. "You did it, Jack," she said gently. "There are 17 people currently being processed by our medics. We brought in Tok'ra to help. Inanna is doing another sweep of the planet, just in case. We think you got them all, though."

Darkness overtook Jack again, and he passed out from the pain that threatened to explode his head.

"He'll be alright," Enki told them. "I'm going to close him down, like I did before. He'll sleep for a while."

"I thought the brain didn't feel pain," Daniel commented.

"It doesn't," Enki said. "The pain he's feeling is from the rest of his body. Every nerve ending is awake and sending signals. No, they're screaming the signals. His blood pressure is dangerously high and it's causing the blood vessels in his head to pump hard. Basically, he triggered the world's worst migraine. We need to get his pressure down, though, or he'll give himself an aneurism."

"Dr. Lam already has him on something," Sam said, her face creased in worry.

"Yes, and letting him sleep will help even more," Enki told her, ushering them from the room.

"Isn't there a way to find symbiotes?" Daniel asked. "I mean, like attaching a spotter to the mikku?"

"You're asking for a machine that identifies specific races and species," Enki said. "Can you think of a program that will differentiate between a white person and a black person? Or a European and an Asian? Sure you could set up a spotter, but what about all the snakes that are natural to this world? Personally, I don't think it can be done. We can get creative but we are not gods who know all."

It was several days before Jack was well enough to handle the presence of people. Enki continued to monitor him, much to Dr. Lam's irritation. Inanna didn't find anymore hosts. The only person that Jack seemed to find relatively calming for him was the presence of Olivia. Her baby thoughts and emotions were a cool glass of water to his wounded senses, so his partners left the baby at his side for short periods.

"What's happening?" Jack asked when he could focus again. Sam sat on the bed and held his hand as Daniel stood next to them.

"Well, Col. Sheppard got rid of all the snakes," Daniel told him. "From what we can determine, that dig in Florida unearthed a nest of stored pottery that held symbiotes. The first one that was opened took over Professor Shelton and then began to distribute the others to select people. It seems that some were even sent through the mail and opened by people who thought they were opening a pretty vase or urn sent to them as a gift. They got a hold of someone, probably Senator Friedman or Mrs. Hayes, discovered what had been happening, and transferred themselves to hosts who had connection. You stopped another attack on the planet, Jack."

"Yes, and all by your self," Sam said. "Jack, you fibbed to us."

He cranked open an eye. "How so?"

"You never let anyone else play with the pukku, so we thought only you could use it," she said. "Sheppard put it down once when he was tired, and an SF picked it up. Someone without the gene, mind you, and he accidentally disinfected a detainee. Why didn't you tell us?"

"My toy," Jack murmured, nestling down into the pillow. "If anyone could use it, someone might get it into their head to steal it. We need more pukkus."

"If you had asked me, I could have told you anyone could use it," Inanna said later when Sam complained. "I don't have the Ancient gene, but I believe I told you I had the pukku long ago."

Daniel's head hit the wall. "She did say that," he groaned.

"The chair is a different matter," she said. "It has high level security systems attached to it, so only certain people can use it. Sam, really, this thing about gene therapy is wrong. Your Atlantis people shouldn't be tampering like that."

"Why?" Sam asked. "They seem to be fine."

Inanna frowned as she tapped her fingers on her crossed arms. "It's about evolution," she said. "The Ancients evolved which means their genes evolved. They created devices that responded to a specific genetic sequence. Your people are trying to force square pegs into round holes. Sure, they'll fit if they are smaller than the hole, but there will be patches that are not connecting at the corners. By tampering with someone's DNA, you could inadvertently trigger something unexpected and who knows if it will be a good thing or a bad thing. And those who are being tampered with are not evolving mentally with the new information. You may be creating a new Asgard."

The others thought about it. "Copies of copies that degrade with each copy," Daniel commented. Inanna nodded.

"Correct," she said. "I'm not saying this will happen, I'm just saying that it isn't a good idea to be tampering with Mother Nature in this manner."

The kids were allowed to come in to see Jack. They came in one at a time, reassured when they found him whole but just a little weak. Davy climbed onto the bed and nestled into Jack's side for a while. He was napping there when Hayes and Maynard came for a visit. The president gave the boy a grandfatherly glance and pet the light brown hair.

"How are you feeling, Jack?" Hayes asked.

"Better," Jack said. "At least light isn't screaming at me anymore. How's the Mrs.?"

"She's better," Hayes said with a nod. "Dr. Edmonds has been a tremendous help. And Senator Friedman is also recovering. Both Friedman and Judy have been writing pages and pages of information they remember from the symbiote. I'm not sure it'll do us any good, the information seems to be related to ancient America, but it makes them feel good to write it out."

Hayes wrinkled his face as he considered Jack. "I've been trying to understand what exactly it is that you did," he said. "Your buddy Enki said you could have obliterated yourself into non-existence, if you had opened your mind up any further."

Jack looked at him. "Really? He didn't tell me that."

Several more people came into the room. Sam, Daniel, Paul, Cassandra, and the rest of the kids. They stood quietly at the back of the room.

"Jack, you not only gave me my wife back, but you saved us. Again," Hayes told him. "My God, Jack, when I think of how close we were to having Goa'uld in positions of power….. Well, we got you a little present. Sort of a thank you. Hope you like it."

He fumbled in his pocket and came up with a small box.

"You didn't need to….." Jack lost his voice when he opened the box.

"I polished those myself. Once you're back in uniform, you can put those stars next to the others, Lieutenant-General," Hayes told him.