Enigma

Maybourne. That was a name that came up during Jack's unofficial look into our mugging earlier this year. I didn't think my job was to talk to the Tollans, ambassador at large I am not. I leave that to Daniel. I did agree that may it was time for the alien clan to get out of dodge for awhile. Drey'auc didn't like that, but convincing her that we were looking after Janet and Cassie worked a long way for her to agree to go off base. Janet had needed the time off. Treating SG-1, okay, all the SG teams what seemed like non-stop, was pushing the boundaries of combat medicine, and even I recalled that combat fatigue sets if one is at it too long.

General Hammond was going to send Janet off regardless of the Tollan 'invasion', and she was biting at the bit to get back to treat the latest cases in -her- infirmary. Jack backed my idea of getting Drey'auc and Rya'c away, with Maybourne en route, adding in the destination we should go. Should have known. I just think he just liked the idea of me back in cabin. Okay, maybe I'm reading too much into that one.

Maybe.

Janet had been packing for a camping trip anyway. Cassie was use to the 'great outdoors' and I think her original trip was intended on being a good mother-daughter bonding time. I hated to intrude on that, however, she wasn't going to have her mind on it with the Tollans back at base, and I really needed the extra help to get Drey'auc and Rya'c to go away. Running away was not an option, but going away was a battle I could win at with them. Protecting Cassie sealed the deal, and off we were to Jack's cabin.

Yes, I know he and the General likely had that place swept top to bottom, and only didn't have guards in place because that would send up a flare to Maybourne that would do exactly what we didn't want. For the NID to take interest.

Not that it worked out that way.

I wasn't a bad shot by now. Not up to certain Indian Jones like archeologist, but I wouldn't be totally useless if it came to it. Which I hope it never will. A hope Jack shared, silently I could see. That was a step Jack never wanted me to take. Drey'auc was -almost- satisfied with how our Jaffa-cise sessions were going, and I did keep my head during the Hag-thor 'visit'. So I would have been slightly more useful than Cassie if trouble came around. Slightly...I'd like to think more so than Rya'c. We all have our delusions thank you very much.

Visiting the cabin was in a different context now than when I was last here with Jack. For one, I had quite a bit of explaining to do. Its not that any of our resident aliens, you know, I never thought I would be even thinking that, much less being in this situation a year, two, a lifetime ago. Anyway, not that any of them were strangers to hardship. Cassie's village was not exactly high tech from what Jack described it, and Drey'auc and her son had been on the run once Teal'c defected.

Still, it was left to the Tau'ri woman to explain how things worked and Janet was still preoccupied with what was happening back in -her- infirmary. Yep, she needed this time off.

When something did go south, it was all I could do to hang onto Rya'c who wanted to be 'the man' his father was, and go out and help his mother fight the NID jerks who did come after us. Whether she was just that good, or they had no better briefing than the 'muggers', several staff blast later, we didn't have a problem.

Well, -we- didn't, the Air Force did with cover up stories. Not all of her shots went into men. Not that I saw. I was in no rush to see a battlefield, and Cassie was curled up into a ball as is. About all that kept me from joining her was that someone on the inside had to hold it together, and if I lost it, Rya'c would be out the door.

Men.

Young or old, they have to rush into things.

Yes, I know Janet was there, keeping a far cooler head, but I do have my delusions. It helped to think of the kids than myself with the fighting going on outside. It also helped that Janet left me with the kids afterwards. Not leave the 'women and children' alone, Janet doesn't think that way. It was the trust she had to do so without a word while she goes out to see if who was hurt where. Drey'auc's appearance at the door announced she was just fine in the aftermath.

I think this helped to ease Cassie into bonding with Drey'auc. She now sees a protector instead of once-oppressor. I'm also glad Drey'auc humored her son by naming him our protector while she escorted Janet to check out the people she just killed, well, excuse me, fought. Confirmed kills, as Jack would say, wasn't until after Janet came back.

Some ways, she looked more relieved. Not at the deaths, but in doing her doctoring thing. She -really- needs a proper vacation when this is over.

I wasn't -exactly- angry with General Hammond afterwards. Sure he didn't know we were bait for 'rogue' NID men. But he should have been given a need to know. So my anger is misplaced, as I don't have a face other than his to blame. Good thing all the fuming was internal, he had enough on his hands with the Tollan 'escape' from how Jack tells it.

So Maybourne losses both ways. I can only hope this result in a major demotion.

A girl can hope, can't she?

Drey'auc's Kel no'reem

The trust the Tau'ri have placed with me was gratifying. To go out and make sure Dr. Frasier, her daughter and Sara were safe as we visited O'Neill's stronghold offset the fact we were being sent away. Something I had to keep assuring my son that it was not the case. It did help that Teal'c talked with him, using a tactic I would later use with entrusting our care in his hands. He will be a good warrior one day, but not that day.

Grateful I was with Sara holding onto him. Our enemies would not get by me, but I did not want my son to either. Fighting on more than one front is a foolish at the best of times.

The trip to O'Neill's stronghold showed parts of the world of the Tau'ri that I found wondrous. Parts of it much like Chulak. I was glad to share such sights with my son and Sara. It seems to bring to life Cassandra Frasier as well. That is until the attack. At first I thought she would retreat to that place in her mind where she had to hide from the horrors of her past. Yet, when I entered into O'Neill's stronghold in obvious victory, the way she looked at me changed. I feel she wants me around now, instead of just accepting me as a fact of her new life. That won me a victory beyond what the foes without provided.

Dr. Frasier is efficient, even if she hoped that some may live after the fight. She knows the value of cautious approach, and the urgency to save a life. We may disagree on when to do so, but that is strength among the Tau'ri, one I respect, if I do not always understand.

I understand soldiers are not along the perimeter of the stronghold. I would like to think to protect against other enemies coming than us within their well hidden circle. It is with that small deception to my own mind that I can finally slip into a proper state of Kel no'reem.