Chapter 14

This is the first time I've been back to the base since my grand return to Earth. I've still got clearance, I've been given nearly unlimited access to the facility even though I have no reason to be here. They feel they owe me that, I guess, but I'm not sure why. However, it is nice that I can still come in and watch Carter work, take her to lunch and all that. Although by lunchtime it will be time to pick up the kids. I'm looking forward to that.

Not much has changed in Cheyenne Mountain, not that I expected it to. Airmen scurry about their business as usual, scientists in while lab coats casually stroll about, their heads in the clouds, Asgard walk around like they own the place…

What?

Oh yeah, Asgard walking round, I'm not imagining it.

Carter watches my reaction with mischievous glee. I knew we were allies with my favorite little gray men but this is…this is more like an alliance. Fifth Race sort of stuff, if you know what I mean. Which you might not. Story time, where's Daniel when you need him?

There was once an alliance of four powerful races: the Asgard, the Ancients, the Nox and the Furlings. To make a long story short the Nox can raise the dead and make things invisible, the Ancients built the Stargate network and a whole slew of other scientific wonders that may have been as easily inclined to failure as success before ascending to a higher plane of existence, and the Furlings…well, I'm not too sure about them but I imagine they're cute and fuzzy and way smarter than us. The Asgard complete this scientific, benevolent wonder group with some fancy ships, superior intellect grounded in sincere guardianship and total control of emotion. Think Vulcan but way smarter and way cooler.

I love the Asgard. Of all our allies they've shown the greatest desire to help the good and innocent, and even though we're like two year-olds to their grandfatherly wisdom they've never been condescending or disrespectful. I've always considered Supreme Commander Thor to be one of the greatest persons I've ever met. Sitting beside im in that respect are General George Hammond, Daniel Jackson, Teal'c, and of course Samantha Carter-O'Neill.

Anyway, you can bet it shocks my socks off to see Asgard strolling around my former command. Not that I mind, it adds a certain genuine character to the base and it's purpose.

The Asgard stops in the hallway, inspecting me curiously, so Carter and I stop to chat.

"O'Neill." The Asgard greets me in a way I remember from twelve years ago, the slightly informal and, for their species, jovial tone that I can recognize as Supreme Commander Thor.

A smile spreads across my face at seeing my old friend. "Thor. Buddy."

Of course, whatever actually came out of my mouth was never meant to be heard by human or Asgard ears. He seems to understand me though.

He steps closer to me and offers me his hand. Carter looks shocked at the gesture, but I'm not sure why because this had become a ritual of ours whenever he came to visit when I first took command of the SGC and when I moved to Washington. He was quite eager to partake in our Earth customs and had unofficially named me as his teacher. It looks like he's just as eager to pick up where things left off. "It is good to see you, my friend. I was glad to hear of your return. The Asgard are most pleased that you are alive and well."

I don't doubt it. For some reason the little fellas like me. "Thanks."

Thor looks over at Carter curiously.

"He said thanks." She smiles humorously. My glare has no effect on her.

"You seem to have difficulty in speaking, O'Neill." Thor points out innocently, but even I can see he's laughing on the inside. Emotionless, my eye. These guys have more humor than most Senators I know. Actually, more than all the politicians I've ever known. They just like to hide it from the children. "I would not have recognized you had you not been accompanied by Colonel Carter."

I know it's a joke, and a pretty good one for Thor. We all look alike. The thing that had set me apart all those years ago was my incessant chatter and odd mannerisms. That, and a neat genetic code their sensors could lock onto.

"You seem surprised to see me." Thor continues.

I nod and shrug and wave my hand about to indicate I wasn't expecting him to be walking around our base so freely and comfortably. Surprisingly, he understands me.

"The Asgard have been awaiting your return to the SGC. Daniel Jackson assured us you could not stay away forever. We have a proposition we wish to discuss."

I look at Carter accusingly, thinking she must have set this up but she looks as surprised as me.

"I didn't know, Jack."

"We have not discussed this with anyone else. I received permission from Daniel Jackson to remain on Earth to await your arrival. My ship will return when we are finished. I can stay as long as you wish, if you feel unready to discuss our proposal."

I honestly don't know what to think. I have no idea what they have in mind for me, what this proposal is, but Thor has piqued my curiosity. Daniel was probably right that I just can't stay away. Also, I've got nothing better to do for the next few hours. I shrug as nonchalantly as possible but I'm sure even Thor can see how curious I am. I mean, what could be so important that the Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet would camp out on my doorstep to have an audience with me? Doesn't he have more important things to do? Maybe he's on vacation.

Carter leads us to an empty conference room, matching her pace to ours. The Asgard are smaller than humans, an average of four feet tall, with small, frail-looking bones, unproportionally large heads with huge black glassy eyes. Over the many millennia of their existence they have become dependent on intellectual rather than physical means. In short, they walk at a snail's pace, and with my bum leg and cane, I rather like it. Nice and easy, no hurry to get where you're going. Chalk another one up for my Asgard buddy.

We sit down and Carter leaves us to chat alone, setting up a computer for me if I need it to talk to Thor.

"If my ship were here we have technology which would simulate your voice through your thoughts. Unfortunately, the Enterprise is not in this galaxy."

My eyes bug out of my head and my slack jaw dances shamefully. The Enterprise? That is…so cool.

"Colonel Carter once suggested you would appreciate that name." Thor explains. I'll bet he spent years imagining my reaction. He's a sly one. I smile appreciatively and I'm surprised by how at ease I am with him. I've been around the galaxy enough not to be bothered by some of the stranger looking species I've seen, or even to be able to converse with and respect them. The Asgard are on a whole other level, and Thor is way, way up there at the top.

There are very few people who I've trusted, respected, and liked from the moment I met them. Thor is one of them. Teal'c is another. Surprising to me is that they're both aliens, and that the list is rather short. But from the moment I was snatched away from the SGC in the middle of a speech to negotiate a treaty on behalf of Earth between the Goa'uld, the Asgard, and the Tau'ri, Thor was my number-one ally. Master Bratac and Jacob Carter have that claim too, but seeing as they'll both never read this and I promised a copy to the Supreme Commander I don't have a problem playing favorites.

"I believe the saying is 'let us cut to the chase.'" Thor announces abruptly, and I wave in agreement for him to get to the point. "The Asgard wish to formalize the alliance between our people. We would like you, O'Neill, to become Earth's ambassador to the Asgard. The terms of our agreement are not contingent upon this, however, we would be honored if you would accept."

I honestly don't know what to say. Had I the predisposition for speech I'd have been rendered without it. They'd be honored? Heck, I've never been more honored in my life, professionally speaking. This is one heck of a thing, to be asked by one of the most advanced races in the galaxy to be their ambassador is…well, let's just say I'll never need to pad my ego.

I pull out my wallet and hand over a picture of Jacob and Charlie. This was taken a couple weeks ago when I was feeling particularly sentimental and they were just so dang cut sleeping together on the couch. Without me! I couldn't resist.

"Your children." Thor accurately guesses. "I can understand you would not wish to part with them. Your position would not require that you leave Earth for more than a day or two, perhaps once or twice a month."

That surprises me. They must have really thought this through.

"We would equip the SGC with the necessary power source to allow you to travel by Stargate to our galaxy." Bonus points for me bringing new technology to Earth. We've got ZPMs from Atlantis, and Thor would know better than I do what kind of advancements we've made. And thanks to the Stargate, travel time would be, well, no time at all, really.

"Your children would be most welcome on Orilla." Ooh, he is one smooth manipulator. I'm actually quite tempted, though my government would never seriously consider letting the kids come with me to another galaxy. I'm wondering what my part of the deal looks like if I'm getting all these perks.

"We would ask that you attend the council meetings concerning affairs in your galaxy. Also, that you are available here at the SGC if my people wish to speak with you about Earth. There are many of us who would be honored to meet you. You are legendary among the Asgard." Did he read my mind? Who cares? Ego expanding, must deflate. Too much flattery, must take me down now. "However, I have managed to convince most otherwise." Ouch. "You are much too real and alive to be a legend." Sweet. "Although one day, no doubt, you and your team will receive all due reverence as true legends."

Aw man, what am I supposed to say to that? Something quippy and witty to merit my legendary irreverence and sarcasm?

"Nonetheless, many of the Asgard would appreciate first hand knowledge of your world. We would like for you to teach us." Teach you what? I'm no teacher. Carter and Daniel, maybe, they'd love it, but me? What have I got to offer? Warfare and sarcasm?

"You are wondering why we would choose you." I swear he can read my mind. "Do not doubt you own importance, O'Neill. You have helped your people to achieve great things." He pauses a moment and I swear that he sighs. "Additionally, the others have found your brand of politics to be…refreshing. You are forthright and honest and have been found to be trustworthy." Is that his way of saying I'm entertaining? Because despite whatever you think I am not a court jester. Refreshing? I like it.

"Please consider our offer. We can later discuss the terms of your position. We are open to negotiation. I personally will guarantee that we would not force you to do anything you do not wish to do. In short, we are at your disposal, O'Neill. We believe this to be a fair offer."

More than fair, my friend. Decidedly in my favor. I know that they consider me a hero since I saved their Homeworld from the Replicators, but this is downright humbling. Slowly, I type into the computer while Thor waits patiently. 'Do I get an office?'

He reads the message and stares at me, unblinking, for several seconds. I quirk my eyebrows up innocently. He's deciding whether I'm joking or not. Eventually he decides to answer anyway. "On Earth, that would be a decision for your government. On Orilla, we do not have offices."

Good to know. I type in 'I'll think about it. This is quite an offer.'

Thor inclines his head respectfully.

'So how is the galaxy?' I inquire, and we spend the next couple hours briefing me on galactic and intergalactic affairs. We wrap it up when it's time to pick up the kids. Thor offers to stick around the next few days to answer my questions. I'm sure Carter and Daniel will have a few when I brag to them, I mean, casually inform them about the offer of ambassadorship. Ambassador O'Neill. I kind of like it. Makes this old boy sound important. But there are still tons of things to consider. The Twins being one of them.

Thor doesn't seem to care that I'm as scrawny as him, or that I may see someone who isn't really there, or that I don't speak anymore. It's hard to smile sometimes, the muscles aren't used to it and the scar on my cheek stretches and pulls, my right eye doesn't open as wide as the left. All in all my facial expressions are harder to read if you don't know me well. The Twins and Carter can read me like a book, but I doubt Thor is familiar enough with humans to know that I'm actually pretty excited about the offer.

Maybe he can. I can tell how excited he is to make the offer.

Carter drives me back to the school to pick up Jake and Charlie. I'm anxious to learn how their first day went. Like the other parents we wait outside by the school bus. I'm wondering if the Twins could handle taking the bus so Carter doesn't have to chauffer us around during the day. I could just wait at home for them. Doc says I still shouldn't drive, wouldn't want to have a mental episode while I'm traveling 55 mph in a small tin box. Hurts the leg, anyway.

The class comes out together and I immediately pick out my kids from the bunch. They're holding hands, looking nervously at all the parents until they spot me and Carter, and they dash far ahead of the group towards us. Some of the other children follow suit, sprinting off to their respective parents. Charlie is in my arms before the others break ranks. She has a piece of paper in her hands and she shoves it in my face, too close for me to see it. But I know she's smiling.

I set her down and take the paper. It's a picture in crayon and I know they both contributed to it. It's all blue and green. There's no pattern or shape or anything discernible, it's just blue and green lines and squiggles, but to my trained eye I've never seen art more beautiful. I place a hand on her shoulder and smile, and proudly hand the artwork over to Carter. It will so be up on the refrigerator the minute we get home.

"This is beautiful, Charlie. Did you and Jacob both make this?" Carter asks sweetly, hugging the girl while Jacob takes my hand.

"Yes, Mother. I did the blue. Do you like it?"

"Of course, Charlie, it's wonderful. Isn't it, Jack?"

I nod and smile dumbly in sincere agreement and they're beaming with pride.

"So what else did you do today?" Carter asks as we climb into her car.

Charlie responds before Jacob can even open his mouth. "We played a game to learn the names of the others in the class. Jake forgot his name and they laughed at him, but I didn't think it was funny, so I didn't laugh."

"That's very sweet, Charlie. Jacob, honey, it's okay to forget your name. It's new, so it will take some time to get used to it."

Thank God for Carter. If I'd been in that class I'd have laughed at him, too. I'm a jerk, what can I say? But I would have made it better somehow. He loves my hugs. The Twins talk excitedly about their day once Jake is over his embarrassment and Carter asks the questions to keep them going. I sit and listen.

I don't care for my role in this. I want to be able to interact with my kids, not just respond to them. That's when I decide that listening is really overrated and talking is a great asset. So I'm going to be working my jaw off to be able to speak clearly again.

Of course I'll be doing this privately.

Carter returns to the SGC after dropping me and the kids off at home. Yes, I am now certifiably a stay-at-home Dad, and I love it. I get to spend all day with two lovely five year-olds, what's not to love? Poor Carter has to slave away to her machines and doodads. And Daniel, well, I don't envy him. Command of the SGC is no cake walk. No, I love my role as doting father. Would an ambassadorship affect that? I decide not to think about these issues when I should be having fun with my children.

"Can we go to the park, Father?"

Oh yeah. Loving this. Except for one thing.

TBC