Chapter 09 – New relationships
Aboard the plane to Peterson AFB, Jacob was staring out of the window. He remembered flying these planes instead of riding in them. Of course, since then he'd had a much sweeter ride in spaceships. But at the same time, the roar of the engine and the turbulences made him feel like he was coming home after a long absence. He remembered being entranced by the airplanes when a little boy during the Second World War. It was then he had decided to one day be a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces.
A sharp pain brought Jacob back to the present. "Damn it, Jack!" His friend had just kicked his shin! "What?" he asked at the childish behaviour of his friend.
Jack rolled his eyes and gestured to the third party on the plane. Methos was curled up on his seat asleep, looking like he wouldn't be able to hurt a fly. "What do you think of him? You keep staring, Jacob…" Jack stopped and glared at Jacob. "This could hurt your daughter, you know. And if that is the case, I will personally kick your ass through the gate and conveniently forget to open the iris, if you ever should decide to come back!"
Looking at the man opposite him, Jacob saw the hard glint in his eyes. 'He cares about her; enough to threaten anything – or anyone, in this case – that would hurt her.' Jacob didn't even try to pretend that he didn't understand. "I know that it's a possibility. After you healed us, Sam told us about what you'd said. You know, we still have something we are needed for? When I look at him, I somehow feel complete. As if he is my destiny. I know that Sam will probably be disappointed. I know that she might not understand, but in this case I have to risk it!" Jacob exclaimed in one breath. "You know that, under normal circumstances, I'd rather die than hurt my daughter. But at the same time – there's just this calling. I've been trying to ignore it, but it just keeps getting stronger, the harder I push it away. Yet, I don't think I could bear losing either of them! And yet – I – I don't even know if he feels the same way! Maybe it's all in my head and I'm getting senile!" He put his head into his hands, rubbing his temples with his thumbs.
"Oh, trust me; it's not just in your head!" Jack smirked while leaning over. "Just for the info, he seems to find you pretty interesting as well. Kept glancing at you the whole time!" He laughed. "You're almost as bad as Danny and me! We didn't even realize we were in love until Paul threatened to lock us up. If I remember right, he said something like "damn fucking blind and stupid". I can't imagine why he'd think that. Daniel's pretty smart in my book."
Jacob laughed as he looked at the innocent look on his friends face 'blind and stupid, indeed!' "I think Davis just might be right. For a man with such high intelligence Daniel can be a bit…" at Jack's glare Jacob stopped to think carefully, "naive. And you're just a bit slow on the uptake!" He laughed and leaned back to get away from the man playfully swatting at him.
"One of these days, Jacob, I'll get you back!" Jack snickered while pointing at the still sleeping man beside them. "One of these days…"
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Cameron Mitchell sat on his bed in his quarters, thinking and remembering. 'What the fuck should I do?' The knocking on the door tore him out of his thoughts. He called out, "Come in!"
Daniel Jackson stepped inside and shut the door. He wondered, 'Should I really do this? But I don't want to see SG-1 fall apart, if they clash due to cultural differences. Guess I don't really have any choice then.' "Hey Mitchell, do you have a minute? I'd like to talk to you."
"Sure. What about?" Cameron looked a little ill at ease.
"I just wanted to see how you were holding up, with the revelation in the conference room, you know?" Daniel nervously looked at Cam. He knew that it couldn't be easy for a soldier in the US military…
"What does that have to do with anything?" he replied tensely.
Daniel practically saw the defensive walls going up around Cameron. "Mitchell, you're a military man. Your father was a military man. Your grandmother taught you the Bible. Now it seems as if you're in love with Teal'c! I just wanna make sure that this won't end up destroying everything you've worked for! You got us back together. You're the glue that keeps us together right now! What do you think would happen if the thing between you and Teal'c goes downhill?" Daniel exclaimed. 'Easy, tiger, you shouldn't attack him right now,' he could almost hear Jack's voice telling him.
"I don't know, okay? I know that, when I look at all my grandmother taught me, that it's wrong to love a man! I know that my parents told me that love's important, and you should grab the chance when it presents itself… I know that the Bible says that I shouldn't love him…But I do!" Cameron stopped. His anger vented he slumped back onto his bed. He ran his hand through his hair. Closing his eyes he could see his parents and grandmother looking at him with disappointment and disgust in their eyes. That was the last thing he wanted to ever experience.
"Cameron." Daniel saw the sorrow that crossed the man's face. He went over and sat on the bed. "Before my parents died they always told me that it isn't important whom you love, rather that you know love at all. Love and respect are the most important things. There's also the saying "It's better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all." That's another question. Can you go into the field, knowing that he might die any moment – any time? Would you be able to make the call, if it was him or the team? Or would you sacrifice everyone else for him? That's the reason the military has regulations against team members being in a relationship. He's also your subordinate. Do you love him enough to follow through on his wishes, even if goes against your heart?" He laid his hand on Cam's shoulder.
Cameron opened his eyes and looked at the doctor. "I know I love him… but what should I do? I want to be with him..." 'But am I strong enough?' he ended miserably.
"You have to trust Teal'c. I know his feelings for you run deeper than anything he's ever felt before." He thought about everything he had experienced since joining the program.
A new strain of thought occurred to him. "Did you ever think about the possibility that the Bible is just a guidebook? There to help one experience faith and to believe in something higher than yourself? When you look back you'll find that, despite the important messages and faith it invokes, it was still written by humans. Humans have their own beliefs and fears, so these found their way into the "word of God". Just look at the Goa'uld. They had it written down that they were gods, to make people believe in them. Look at the Ori. They have the Book of Origin. In its beliefs it's similar to our Bible. It exists to constitute faith. But just because it's different than ours doesn't make it right or wrong. For all we know, Jesus might have been an Ancient.
"We fight the Ori because they try to force their belief on others, like the Christians once did. And these people follow either because they have no faith of their own or out of fear of being destroyed." Daniel took a deep breath. "Isn't it possible that the original message of the bible is true, but the concepts about hell and punishment are just fears of that time period? It's strikingly similar to some of the so-called "pagan" beliefs of the time.
"It's been theorized that the word "hell" comes from the Norse word hel. Already in Ancient Egypt, people believed that the dead come before a judge. If they were judged unworthy of the afterlife, they were punished and their souls devoured. Since they were sent to the "Flame Isle", that could be where the Christians got their idea for hell being burning. In Ancient Greece what we would consider "hell" was called Tartarus. The Christians just adopted the idea of hell from all the other religions they saw around them. Yet at the same time they discount those. It's one of the church's means to control the crowd by fear – just like the Ori do."
He looked at the dazed look Cameron had on his face. 'God, he's just like Jack sometimes! Though, luckily, he hasn't learned to interrupt me yet.' He smiled at that. 'I'd better not tell him that though.' With a last squeeze to Cam's shoulder he stood up. "Oh, by the way, Teal'c is in the gym." Daniel left the room smiling.
Slowly thinking over what Jackson had just said, Cameron rolled over onto his stomach. 'After everything you've seen; wouldn't it be possible for our God to have been an Ancient?' "No one has the right to judge me for whom I love!" Cameron declared loudly before quickly rolling out of his bed. With a sudden spurt of spirit he left his room.
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"It's okay, Teal'c. You have to give him time." Sam said. She and Teal'c were sitting on the ground of the gym. It was deserted; otherwise Teal'c would have never taken such an undignified position. After the meeting had ended and Jack, her father and Methos had left in a hurry, Daniel and Sam had quietly conferred with each other. They'd seen the attraction between Cam and Teal'c for a while already, but thought that nothing would ever happen. When Cam had sacrificed himself to save Teal'c from the bullet, they knew it would change. But then Cam had shrugged off Teal'c's hand after the meeting and left with a pained look on his face. They knew something was wrong and that they'd have to help their friends.
"I know, Colonel Carter. I just fear that he will reach the conclusion that his faith in a book is more important than I am."
"He was raised to live by the Bible, Teal'c. His parents weren't so strict, but as far as I know his grandmother was. Don't worry though! Daniel's speaking with him right now. If anyone can convince him, it's Daniel. That is… unless he starts digging up historic and mythological references. He'd totally lose Cam then." Seeing Teal'c's worried look she quickly continued, "But I doubt that'll happen. After all, how could anyone find a link between the current situation and mythology?" She smiled weakly, knowing that, if anyone could, it would be Daniel. They looked at each other and Sam held up the basketball tilting her head enquiringly and Teal'c nodded. Both stood up and began another play of friendly basketball.
They were so involved in their game, that they didn't hear the running steps approach them. Neither did they see the blur that was Cameron Mitchell when he threw himself at Teal'c.
Teal'c was surprised when he suddenly found himself being tackled from the side. Even while falling, his muscles tensed in preparation of a fight, until he saw Cameron's face. Turning them both slightly, so that he would land on the bottom, and shielding Cam's head from hitting the floor, they fell into an undignified heap.
Sam looked at them speechless. She tried to hold back her laughter, but was soon giggling. The giggling turned into full-blown laughter at the memory of her old CO telling her not to giggle. Still laughing she left with a wink, closing the door behind her. Outside she put down one of her "doohickies" in front of the door as an alarm for the two inside.
Cameron looked down at Teal'c. He looked solemn as he reached up and gently stroke Teal'c's cheek. "I'm sorry, Teal'c."
"Nothing happened, Cameron," Teal'c replied confused. "I am uninjured." 'Why does he tackle me and then feel sorry?'
"Not for jumping you! I always wanted to jump your bones anyway," he quipped. Then he turned serious again, "I mean for earlier. I…I was thinking about what my parents and grandmother would think if they found out about you." He lowered his eyes ashamed, with a slight blush coloring his complexion. "I know it's silly, but… I love them and want their respect. But I also want you. It was just too confusing, so I ran. I'm sorry."
Teal'c gently took hold of his chin and waited until Cam's eyes met his, "It is only natural to think about your family. Colonel Carter and Daniel Jackson told me about your upbringing. That you were raised to believe that the feelings we have for each other are wrong. I take it that your being here means you have reached a conclusion for yourself?" Teal'c cocked his head, hoping that the fact that Cam was still stroking his cheek meant that he had decided to take the risk.
"Yeah, well… Jackson told me some stuff. Then he let me work it out on my own. And to try to understand what his actual message was, between all those references. I did discover one thing though, Teal'c: I love you. Nothing will ever change that." Leaning down he caught Teal'c's lips with his own.
The Jaffa was surprised but instinctively reacted to the soft lips he felt upon his own. He rolled them around, so that Cameron could lie comfortably on the floor with Teal'c looming over him. Then he kissed back. Eventually they reluctantly broke apart to catch their breath. "I love you too, Cameron. I would not want you to regret your decision…"
Cameron interrupted him with a kiss. This time the kiss was less gentle, almost forceful. Breaking away Cameron panted slightly, "I will not regret being with you! If they can't accept me for whom I am, then they'll have to do without me." He was almost sure that it wouldn't come to that. But a sliver of fear still lingered on in his mind. 'As long as Teal'c is with me, and our friends don't abandon us, it'll be okay!'
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Meanwhile, Sam and Daniel sat in Daniel's office. "I think you were successful, Daniel!" Sam grinned.
"It didn't take much to convince Mitchell. He was just a bit insecure. But who wouldn't be in his situation? You know, I think he resembles Jack more than we thought… They have the same dazed look when you give them too much information!" The two scientists both started laughing.
"At least they're not as bad as you and the general were!" Sam continued laughing.
"If I hadn't been so shocked, I would have made myself sick from laughing so hard. It was really hilarious how Paul exploded and told Jack to "shut the fuck up and finally start fucking me"! And that we were both "blind and stupid"! It was also worth it, to see Davis, who's normally so respectful, pale when he realized what he'd just said to the general." Daniel knew that he and Jack had needed that ineloquent kick in the right direction. Otherwise they would still be at the same point, always fighting because of unresolved sexual frustration. Not that they didn't still fight… but it was more the nature of the fights they'd had before falling in love.
"I wish I'd seen it. You must've been pretty bad that day." Sam could just imagine it! The General and Daniel childishly playing their 'Did not – Did too' game until Paul had had enough.
"I've never seen a man pale so much that quick. I thought he had a coronary! Then he went bright red and practically ran out, throwing a "Sorry" back at us! The look on Jack's face was totally worth it though!" Thinking back Daniel could still see the dumbfounded look on his lovers face. How he'd stood there mouth opening and closing soundlessly. How Daniel himself started sputtering and how they'd finally gotten their act together and talked.
"Did the General read him the riot act?" Sam didn't think that Jack O'Neill would have officially reprimanded Major Davis for that.
"That is the best part. When we found him, he was already writing his resignation. Imagine his surprise when we actually thanked him! Paul was just really glad he hadn't overstepped any lines there. Especially since we had both been married, Jack had had a kid and because of the whole "don't ask, don't tell" policy, that he had basically ignored in his annoyance." Daniel remembered that with a slight melancholic air.
"You're glad he is back here, even if it is part time, right?" Sam asked gently. She'd seen the sadness cross Daniel's face.
"Yeah, thanks to Thor's insistence that they wouldn't accept anyone but Jack as the Asgard ambassador. We'd planned to go on a vacation for two weeks," he answered quietly.
"Dad and I'd planned to visit Mark and then spent some time together as well. That last time we almost lost him really shook us up, so we've been trying to spend more time together," Sam said wistfully.
"Sometimes, I think they interrupt our vacations deliberately. Who knows what would happen if we weren't here for the next apocalyptic event?" He laughed. Soon, Jack would be back from Washington.
Maybe, with Methos on their side, their chances at defeating the Ori would grow.
tbc