The site wasn't showing this chapter so I'm reposting - here's hoping it worked!
A stunned silence greeted Thor's words. If he had expected excitement or relief, or even joy at his pronouncement he was to be disappointed. Instead, most of the people around the table simply looked at him blankly. Jacob, on the other hand, looked furious.
"What the hell do you think you're doing Thor?" the Tokra hissed. "Sam and Jack have been gone for 7 years. We don't need you to come here and tell us some story about them being alive. There's no way they could have survived the blast on that planet. Telling us this – it's just cruel and I won't have any part in it." He stood at that moment, knocking back his chair so that tipped over. It was obvious to the others that he was about to leave.
"Jacob wait", Hank said gently to the former Air Force general. "Let's hear Thor out. I'm sure he wouldn't tell us something like this without good reason." Landry turned to Thor, a question in his eyes.
"Indeed Jacob, General Landry. I apologize for telling you this in this manner. My intent was certainly not to cause more pain. Please Jacob, sit down and I will explain."
Eventually they were able to convince Jacob to sit, although he was breathing quickly and looked like he was ready to make his escape at any moment. "Okay, but this better be good Thor. We don't need any false hopes."
Thor nodded and then proceeded to explain. "Like you, we thought Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter were killed. Believe me when I say that the Asgard people mourned deeply for your friends – and ours. I considered both of them my personal friends as well and bitterly felt their loss. As well, the Asgard have long believed that Colonel O'Neill was to play a special role in the ongoing history of our galaxy." Here the little grey alien stopped. "I do not exaggerate when I say that my people worried greatly about the fate of all of us when it had appeared that O'Neill had died."
"So what makes you think that Jack – that Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter are still alive", Daniel asked. He glanced over at Teal'c at this, only to see his friend nodding, as if Thor's words had simply confirmed what he had believed all along.
"We received word from the Einherjar a short time ago. They told us that the Rodari were searching for the Zagat. At first we were not worried, and told them this. We believed that even if they were to find the Zagat it would be useless without the one who could wield it. That is when they confessed that they believed the Ancient One – O'Neill – to be alive. They are very frightened and have begged for our help."
"Wait – how do you know that the Colonel is this 'Ancient One' you keep speaking about?"
"We have known this since we first met him", Thor replied. "Only the Ancient One could have found us after he first discovered the repository. If anyone else had received the information they would have instantly died. We knew it then and our scans of him proved it to be so. To my shame, I believe we were the ones who were responsible for what happened 7 of your years ago. We let our excitement at finding to overcome our caution. We believe that first the Einherjar and then the Rodari found out about O'Neill through us."
"So that's why they suggested to the Tokra that we get Sg1 to find the Ancient device", Jacob said quietly. "We always wondered about that."
Thor nodded, once, and then continued. "According to the Einherjar, their ship was able to retrieve O'Neill and Major Carter from the planet at the last second. They soon realized, however, that the Rodari were in pursuit. The Rodari are much more powerful and could easily vanquish an Einherjar vessel. The one advantage they have is speed – they are able to travel faster than the Rodari. This is how they were able to get away and leave Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter on a safe planet. The Einherjar ship then fled, drawing the Rodari away. Eventually, however, they were caught and destroyed, but not before they managed to get a message back to their people. Unfortunately, they didn't reveal where they left the two humans."
"So, you are telling us that O'Neill and Major Carter have been on this planet for all these years?" Landry asked. He had known Jack for years but had never really met Major Carter and certainly didn't have the history that these people did with the missing team members. He felt bad, but knew this had hit the others even harder.
"Yes, that is what we believe. According to what the Einherjar recently found out, they were left on a peaceful, habited planet. The people there were not as advanced, technologically, as earth and there was no Stargate. We believe they were safe – at least until they were found and taken by the Rodari."
"So, you're telling me my daughter has been alive all these years and now, just as we find this out, she's been kidnapped by a race of vicious creatures who want to use Jack to control the rest of the universe."
"Yes", Thor answered simply.
"Crap!" Jacob stood up again but this time simply walked to the window overlooking the Stargate. No one said anything, knowing how hard this must be for him. On the one hand, he had to be pleased – hell, they were all pleased that Sam and Jack could be alive. On the other – their friends were now in mortal danger.
"So", he turned around and walked back to the table. "Do we know where they are now? How do we get them home?"
"Their ship is headed toward the planet where they were searching for the Zagat", Thor answered.
"You mean P2V3X5?" Daniel asked, his eyes big behind his glasses.
Hank looked at him in surprise.
"It's a little hard to forget the designation when that was the place we thought our best friends had been killed", he explained.
"Yes", Thor answered. "That is what your people called the planet. We simply call it Vaerfast."
"So, they're headed for this – Vaerfast", Jacob said. "Shouldn't we be going too?" Now that he finally believed it could be possible, he desperately wanted to find Sam. He hadn't been the same since his daughter had been killed and he needed to see her, to tell her how much he loved her.
"Yes, we will go. The Drakkar and Skuldelev will meet us there. I request that you join me aboard the O'Neill II", he invited.
"Wait a second", Hand interjected. "I'm not authorized to let either Daniel or Teal'c go with you. They no longer work for the Air Force and we can't have civilians head out with you into space."
"I am no longer a citizen of Earth", Teal'c answered. "Therefore you have no jurisdiction over me General Landry." Teal'c didn't speak belligerently, or with anger – he simply stated it as a matter of fact.
"I'm sorry Teal'c", the General replied. "you're right, of course. But I do have jurisdiction over who goes from this planet. I really can't authorize-" Without any warning a beam of light surrounded Daniel and he was gone.
"My apologies General Landry, but we do not have time to speak with your government. You are free to lodge a complaint with the Asgard High Council, but for now I need Daniel Jackson."
Landry sighed but knew that there was very little he could do. He'd explain it to the President but he was pretty sure he and the Chiefs would let it go. They didn't want to alienate their Asgard allies. "It's okay Thor, just – watch out for him okay? I don't want to have to explain how a civilian ended up getting hurt or killed out in space."
"I will of course watch him carefully General Landry. Thank you for allowing him to accompany us."
Landry laughed. "I don't really think it was a case of 'allowing' Thor - I don't think I had much choice."
"Enough", Jacob was impatient. "Let's just get the hell out of here. I assume we don't have a lot of time?"
"We will leave immediately Jacob." Thor turned to Landry. "We hope to return shortly General. Thank you."
"You're welcome Thor and good luck. I hope to see you back with our lost officers before long."
Daniel watched out of the window on the bridge of Thor's ship. He'd forgotten how beautiful this was. It suddenly made him long again for the time they'd worked together searching the stars. He knew that even if they got Sam and Jack back, those days were gone. Oh well – maybe they would have their friends back. That in itself was a miracle.
"Do you think they're really out there Daniel?", Jacob asked from beside him. Daniel turned to the older man, noticing how tired and worn the Tokra looked. He was surprised – usually the symbiote kept its human host looking good. He figured Selmak was probably having just about as much trouble with his emotions as well.
"I don't know Jacob, I hope so. I keep telling myself not to get my hopes up though. It just seems too unlikely."
"I keep thinking we'll get there too late", Jacob answered, "and that would almost be worse than if they had actually died 7 years ago."
"For us yes", Daniel replied. "But if they were on a peaceful planet, hopefully they were good years for Jack and Sam. Even though they couldn't get home, maybe they had a good life."
"Do you think they were together?" Jacob asked.
Daniel didn't quite know how to answer. This was Sam's father and he had no idea how Jacob would feel about something like that. For his part, he hoped so. It would have made it easier on the two of them if they had each other. "I – I don't' know Jacob", he answered cautiously.
"I hope so", the older man said. "I would like to think she's been happy and somehow I think O'Neill is the one who could make her feel that way."
"You do?" Daniel asked in shock. "I mean – yeah – I – hell, I don't know what I mean. Are you telling me you'd be glad if the two of them – were together – you know, as in together, together?"
Jacob looked at the younger man and laughed. "Yes Daniel, that's what I mean. Why are you shocked? Jack can be an ass – but he's also one of the best men I know. I also know that he'd do anything for Sam and he'd certainly work to make sure she was happy. I'm pretty sure he's been in love with her for a long time."
Daniel paused and looked out again at the wide universe in front of him. He thought back on his friends and had to laugh. Yes, Jack could be an ass – but it was also true that he would have done anything for Sam. "Yeah, he loved her", he finally said. "More that I think he even knew."
Sam was still curled up around Jack when she felt the engines of the ship stop. The sudden silence was disconcerting and it brought Jack out of the restless doze he had been in for the last few hours.
"What's happening", he asked in a weak voice.
"I don't know. The engines have stopped. We may have arrived to wherever we're going."
At that Jack tried to turn and stretch although the soft gasp showed her that he still wasn't okay. She pushed herself off the bed and leaned over to check his wound.
"I'm just going to take a look Jack, don't move."
"No problem. I'm happy to stay here – won't move, won't go anywhere. I'll be the model – yikes!", he cried as she pulled of the bandage. "Watch it there Mrs. O'Neill!"
"Don't be a baby Jack", she said as she looked at the wound. Actually, she felt bad for hurting him but knew that the last thing he needed right now was sympathy. They couldn't afford to be weak or vulnerable right now – or at least, any more so than they already were.
"Baby? Me? I'll have you know I am not a baby. No, I'm a tough, black ops Colonel, with years of fighting – ow!" He tried to turn to see what she was doing but she pushed him back down.
"Stay still, I'm just cleaning this a bit and putting more cream on it. It looks like it's helping."
"Helping?" he complained. "You call ripping my back off 'helping'? You're a sadist, do you know that Samantha Carter-O'Neill?"
"Better a sadist Sir than a whiny-"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence Sam."
"Or what Sir?" she grinned, knowing that the conversation was helping Jack deal with what was undoubtedly a lot of pain.
"Or I'll have to take my revenge on you!" he said, dire warning in his voice.
"Promise?"
He laughed. "Yeah, I promise. Are you done yet?" This time there really was a bit of a whine in his voice. She knew he was just about at his limit.
"There, all done. You can turn over now."
"You're sure? You don't have some other vicious torture planned?"
"Not this time Jack."
He rolled over, careful of his back. He decided quickly that it was better to sit up and take the pressure off the wound. "Here, help me up", he held out his hand. He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He looked carefully at Sam and was worried to see the bags under her eyes and her pale skin. "Hey, come here", he patted the spot beside him.
She pulled herself up on the small bed and carefully put her arm around her husband. "What do you think is going to happen now", she asked.
"Now? I expect one of the slimy aliens will come and get us and try to find this damn Zagat. I wish I knew what it was or what it did."
"And why they need you."
"Yeah, that too." Jack sat thinking for a few minutes, unsure of how to broach the subject he needed to with Sam. He was dreading what was going to happen, but was pretty sure, based on the comments from the alien, that they were going to use Sam to get what they wanted. "Sam, you know they're going to try and make me do – whatever they need me to."
"Yes, I know", she said softly.
"That means – " crap, he couldn't go on.
"I know. They're probably going to use me to get to you." She suddenly turned and faced him and took his hands in hers. "Jack, no matter what happens, you know you have to put the welfare of our planet and our people before me. You know that I don't expect you to give in to them. In fact, if you do I'll be really pissed!" She tried to make light of it but he wasn't having any of it.
"Sam – I don't know if-" He knew then why the regulations were in place. He really didn't know if he could stand and watch them hurt her. If it was him he could deal with it – been there, done that – but not her, not the woman he loved more than life itself. It terrified him to even think about it.
"Jack, stop it. We'll deal with it if we must but you have to know that whatever happens, I know you love me. There's nothing the aliens can do or say that will make me believe otherwise. We'll figure out a way – we always do."
"God", he leaned forward until his forehead was resting on hers. "I love you so much." He sat there, not moving, for a long while. Finally he leaned back and tried to smile. "You know what?" he said.
"What?" She smiled back.
"I'd give anything to have Daniel and Teal'c and – hell – even your father –coming to our rescue right about now!"
"Yeah", she sighed, "me too." They both knew, however, that it wasn't going to happen.