"Hey, Q?" Sam called, running to catch up with the teenager.
"Yeah?"
"I've been thinking…you said the Stargate program shut down in the 2050s?"
Q nodded. Sam's mouth twisted.
"Why?"
"Why did it shut down?" Q clarified. She shrugged. "Dunno. It went public just a few months earlier, though, so that might have somethin' to do with it."
Sam winced. "I know I'd push for that," she commented dryly. Q looked surprised.
"Why?"
Sam bobbed her head from side to side uncomfortably. "Three years ago I accidentally jumped into a parallel universe where the Stargate program had gone public a few years before and the government kept it going… It was basically a huge mess. Teal'c had left cuz they had forced him to, Vala was in jail, Daniel…wasn't around, I had just died, and Cam had never recovered from his accident in Antarctica."
"The one where he completely shot his leg?" Q asked. Sam nodded.
"Landry was president, George Hammond was still General of SGC, and…I have no clue where Jack was," Sam finished quietly. Recognizing why the colonel suddenly had a lost look on her face, Q skillfully steered them away from that topic.
"So why do you want to know why the SGC shut down?" she asked. Sam drew away from her memories and shrugged.
"I dunno. Just have a feeling that it might be…important."
XxXxX
"No, no, I completely agree," Daniel said. "I was wondering if maybe this wasn't supposed to happen, with the Prior wiping out Earth and all."
"But what does the Stargate shutting down have to do with that?" Cameron asked.
"If SGC was still operating, I don't think a Prior would've made it to the public," Sam pointed out. "He'd never have the chance to preach to anyone but people he already knew wouldn't listen to him. He'd be wasting his time."
"So what are you suggesting?" Landry asked. Sam glanced at Q, letting her know it was her turn. Q looked slightly uneasy as she leaned forward to talk.
"If…if we can get back to 2101, we'd be able to do some research…and with everyone…dead it'd be easier to get into stuff."
Landry looked between Daniel and Sam. "Can you do that?"
Sam shrugged. "We can try."
Landry nodded. "Do it. Q, you're going along."
After the rest of the team dispersed, Daniel followed the general into his office. Landry raised an eyebrow at him.
"Yes?"
"Uh, I was wondering…what am I supposed to do with Ettan?"
"Well, you're either going to have to find him a babysitter," (Daniel grimaced) "which would be awkward, or you take him along with you."
Daniel raised his eyebrows. "You're fine with that?"
Landry sighed. "I'm not exactly happy with you bringing him home in the first place, Daniel."
Daniel opened his mouth to explain but Landry shook his head to cut him off.
"I understand why you did it and I fully support you in that. It just…makes things a little more difficult."
"Sorry," Daniel apologized. "And thank you."
Landry sighed and shook his head. "There's no need to thank me. Oh," he said after a pause, "and Jackson?"
Daniel waited expectantly.
"You and Vala might want to…overcome your differences before you leave tomorrow."
Daniel raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Henwies believes the two of you are married, right?" Landry pointed out. Daniel winced. "He'll most likely come to the conclusion Ettan is her son as well."
Daniel sighed heavily. "I'll talk to her," he promised.
XxXxX
"Vala!" Daniel called, rapping his knuckles on her door. "Vala, please. I know you're in there." Still no answer. "Vala, we need to talk." He waited. After a moment, he sighed, just about to turn away, when he heard the door open a fraction and the ex-space pirate peeked out at him.
"What?" she demanded. Daniel sighed.
"Look…I'm sorry. The reason…I didn't tell you earlier…well, there are a few. One…Vala, I was afraid of your reaction! I was afraid it would damage our friendship…turns out I was right to fear that," he muttered. "Besides, can you blame me? I was still shaky about…it; in fact, I still have nightmares about it! And after you told me you didn't believe me 100 percent…I didn't want to lose any more trust by telling you I had had an intimate relationship with your daughter!" Daniel stared at her, waiting for some type of reaction. He got none. "Vala, I know I sound like a son of a bitch, just spurting out meaningless excuses. But I don't know what else to do! I know you're hurt, I know you want nothing more than to let your anger and hate at me in many ways. And I don't blame you. But I really don't know what you want from me!"
After a moment of pressing silence, Vala spoke.
"Daniel…I—"
"Daddy?"
Daniel felt a familiar tug on his pants leg and knelt down to Ettan's level.
"Yes, Ettan?"
Vala sighed, leaning heavily on the doorframe, impatiently waiting to regain the linguist's attention.
"Colonel Carter—"
"Her name's Sam," Daniel corrected. Ettan frowned slightly.
"Sam told me you're leaving off world tomorrow."
Daniel nodded. "We are."
Ettan pouted. "Do I have to stay?"
Daniel laughed slightly. "No. You're coming along."
"So we still can watch Finding Nemotonight?" Ettan asked hopefully.
"Yes. In fact," Daniel added, "we can have popcorn too!"
Ettan's eyes widened and he made a small, excited gasp. Daniel chuckled lowly, standing up and turning back to where Vala… had been. To his dismay, a shut door greeted him. He closed his eyes, breathing in deeply, and turned back to his son.
"Let's go home, Ettan," he said quietly.
A/N: I love reviewers and live for constructive criticism!