CHAPTER 21

Smoke filled the air along with heat from a few fires as Jack pushed his way out of a pile of debris. He could see and smell both of them. He coughed a few times then called out.

"Anybody still alive?!!" he yelled seeing he was bleeding from a few scratches. He was going to be sore for a few days.

"Here sir." a weak somewhat emotionally distressed voice from Carter said.

She crawled out from behind a piece of the ceiling that had came down right in front of her. It didn't hit her though. It actually kept her safe from other flying objects and such. Other than being crushed by Ford's death she was physically okay. She did her best to wipe away the tears as she got up.

"A little help Jack." Daniel said from his right.

Jack moved over slowly seeing Daniel was under a piece of frame. It hadn't crushed him since Daniel didn't seem to be in any pain.

"You okay? Can you move?"

"Nothing's broken if that's what you're asking Jack. I can feel everything. I'm just pinned."

"Teal'c?!!"
The sound of rustling and moving rubble made Carter and Jack turn with their weapons pointed.

"I am fine O'Neill." Teal'c said standing up. He had a cut on his head, but other than that he seemed okay.

The three of them managed to get the fallen beam up enough Daniel could get out. He had some scrapes on his legs that were bleeding, but otherwise he was fine.

"Where's the other two ladies at?" Daniel asked.

"Oh no." Jack said fearing the worst as he looked around..

A thumping on a door near them got their attention quickly. The door was shoved in partially where a section of the ceiling had fallen on it. It wasn't opening anytime soon.

"You two okay? Wait are you both in there?" Jack yelled.

"Yes Jack we are. That's the answer to both questions. You going to get us out of here?" Lara said through a coughing fit.

"I don't know if we can sir. We might bring the whole place down on us." Carter said trying to keep herself from falling apart.

She tossed the launcher she was carrying aside. It was empty and the rest of the ammo was on Ford's body. Buried somewhere in the mess. Unless ordered, she didn't even want to dig for it.

"I believe this beam can open the door O'Neill."

"How so Teal'c?"

"It does not appear to be holding anything. We should be able to get it to completely take out the door."

"Good thinking Teal'c! Lara, you and Melissa stand back. We're knocking the door in!" he yelled.

The men tried pushing on it, but the door only gave some.

"Okay Teal'c. Shoot the door. Right where it is bending." Jack said.

Teal'c powered up the staff weapon and shot the door. On the third shot it caved in. Lara and Mel came out right after the door hit the floor. They looked worst in some ways. They were black and coughing.

"What happened to you two?" Daniel asked.

"There's a fire in there and beneath us I think. The whole room was full of smoke and ash." Lara said with a cough. "Otherwise we are fine. I pulled us in at the last minute when the room started caving in."

Another rumbling caught all of their attention. They looked around, but didn't see anything.

"Must have been something settling." Daniel said.

The sound of metal footsteps approaching stirred them quickly from anything else they were thinking. They moved away quickly and started off down the hall as several staff blast hit their former position. They took a few turns and ended up in a empty room.

"This is just great. Take positions. If I'm going down, then I'm going to take some of them down with me." Jack said taking a place next to the door.

Daniel pulled his nine and said he had two clips left not including the one in the gun.

"Make them count then Daniel."

Mel said she had a couple of quick loading rounds as she pulled her pistol. Carter said she had one clip left other than the one in her rifle. Jack said he had the same. Several Jaffa came around the corner as Teal'c started firing. The others burst off a few shots then stopped just as quick.

"Conserve ammo!"

Several more Jaffa came around firing at they approached. Fire was exchanged and the Jaffa lost.

"Last clip sir."

"Same here." Jack said.

"I've got one left." Daniel said popping the clip in.

"What happened to all that ammo Ford had?" Jack said with a slight crack in his voice.

"I dropped it back on him when the roof started caving in." Mel said reloading.

"Oh well." Jack said sadly.

"I really wish he was here." Carter said.

Her voice betrayed the emotion she was trying to conceal.

"So do I Carter." Jack said firing again with the rest of them as more soldiers came around.

They went down quickly. Their weapons clicked as they ran out. Teal'c took the last two out quickly with a couple of shots.

"That's it then." Daniel said putting the nine away.

"Here. I'm not used to using weapons with recoil." Mel said handing the pistol and two fast loading ammo's to him. Daniel took it and loaded the gun.

"Here Daniel. I'll use it." Jack said.

Daniel handed it over and was about to sit back when Teal'c handed him his staff.

"What the?"

Teal'c ran out and grabbed a few other staffs and came back quickly.

"You still have ammo?" Jack asked seeing Lara loading her pistols again.

"I still have a couple clips left now. I always carry extra. Wish I brought my other guns." Lara said taking a staff anyway. She opened and closed it a few times seeing how it worked.

"Might need the ammo for something else later." she said seeing him look at her.

They waited hearing more Jaffa approaching, then it sounded like they stopped and were fighting. It was sounding rather gruesome from the loud screams and other noises. Whatever it was though, they stayed put and waited.

Ford was thinking about Carter when he felt his life pass away. Everything went black. Suddenly he breathed in deep and felt a lot of pain and then no pain. He opened his eyes seeing he was somewhat buried under debris.

We're alive? We're alive?! I don't understand.

Not right now Herc. Dwell on it later.

Ford shoved rubble out of the way and saw most of his coat was empty and it lying around him. He picked it up and started putting it all away when he noticed a Jaffa patrol coming. He acted dead seeing he couldn't get up yet and waited till they past. Once they had, he put his stuff away seeing his grenade launcher was missing. Another patrol came around as he located the launcher. He quickly put it away as one of the Jaffa spoke.

"Surrender now Tauri. Your friends are dead."

Ford looked at the devastation around him and the bullets scattered about. He couldn't tell if the guy was lying or not, but if he wasn't, SG-1 didn't go down without a fight. Ford had Hercules flash his eyes as he pulled the sword quickly and close his coat just as fast.

"FOOLS!!!" Ford yelled running forward.

The Jaffa figured he went insane and started firing. When their staff blast didn't do anything they panicked. Ford sliced them down quickly while they were confused. He slashed a few of them several times just for the hell of it before they went down. He stabbed the blade through the head of one of them as he tried to get off the floor.

I am sorry I could not keep you alive long enough to save them.

I can't believe they are gone. They can't be. No……

Ford felt tears form and he didn't care about letting them flow as he sank to his knees. He sat up quickly hearing gun fire.

That was gun fire!!!!

Stumbling over bodies and debris he rushed down the hallway. Several other bodies of Jaffa warriors littered the hallway as he rushed past and came behind a small bunch of them. With a loud yell he ran forward and took the head off the closest one with a single swipe. The others turned around as he rushed forward and made a quick slash slicing through two of them. He turned the sword in his hand quickly and swung back taking their heads off as the others opened fire not carrying that their comrades were in the way. Ford put his arms up quickly as several blast were directed at his head. He felt the heat but pushed forward anyway as they kept shooting. As soon as they stopped he put his arms down. He saw the staff coming and tighten his jaw as it connected. Ford stumbled under the impacted and came back around running him through with the sword. Letting go of the sword, he grabbed the other guys staff weapon as the Jaffa shoved it into his side. With a shout of rage Ford yanked the staff weapon from the guys hand as he fired. Ford felt the heat and the blast but ignored it as he started beating the guy with the staff. He kept it up until the staff snapped in half then shoved the broken part into him and then turned around seeing the guy with his sword pull it out and swing it at him. He blocked it easily and grabbed the guys hand. With a quick snap he broke the guys hand making him drop the sword. Ford then proceeded to slam his fist into the guy several times over. Blood came out of the armor in several places he had hit. With a loud roar Ford punched his hand through the Jaffa's chest. Grabbing the sword he looked around seeing if any more were around. He listened hearing more gun fire and ran and came to another corner finding one Jaffa firing around a corner. His back was to Ford which suited him just fine. Several staff blast came out hitting the wall near the Jaffa or at least around him. Ford turned the blade over in his hand and rushed forward. He thrust it through the Jaffa as he turned around. With a grunt Ford pulled up cutting the man in half from the belly to his head. He watched the man drop and the Goa'uld larva come out of his pouch which he quickly stabbed and wiped it off on the wall. Feeling the adrenalin rush leaving his body, he walked around the corner slowly. He tried speaking once and had to spit the dust and blood from his mouth first.

"SAM!! Jack! Dani…"

They were still watching and waiting when someone came around the darkened corner. Whoever it was, was tall and holding what looked to be a sword. They waited seeing whoever it was stop and heard them spit.

"SAM!! Jack!!! Dan…"

Carter looked closer when her name was called. She rushed forward dropping the staff weapon as Jack tried to grab her.

"Ford?!"

Ford dropped to his knees and started falling forward while letting go of the sword. It clanged as it hit the floor splattering blood as is landed. Carter embraced him despite how bad he looked keeping him from hitting the floor.

"Hey Ford!" Jack said running up. He had so many questions and ideas, but decided for his normal antic. "Aren't you dead?"

"You were giving a second chance like me weren't you, just not the enlightened part!" Daniel said as surprised as everyone else.

"No…..Daniel. I….I'll tell you later." he said tiredly as he slip further to the ground. "If what happened to me is what I think did or….whatever…."

Carter did want to kiss him, but he had whispered it wouldn't have been the best time. She noticed he did have quite a bit of blood on his face, hair and…..well, quite frankly he looked like he jumped into a pool of it. She helped him not fall over, not caring that he got her dirty as well. Lara picked up the sword and grimaced at it. Ford took it from her when she looked ready to drop it.

"Hot bath would be nice, but…..water please." he muttered with a wave of his hand.

They all went for their canteens, but Carter was the closest. He dumped it on his face first then drank some.

"That's better. Can we go home now?"

Jack had to laugh. Everything that had been going on wrong lately was reaching his breaking limit and seeing Ford helped rescinded some of it. Ford had never really said he was tired of a mission before despite some of their hazardous missions in the past that looked grim. Other than that cold, icy planet. His laugher ended up being infectious with the exception of Teal'c who didn't get it. It lasted about a minute, but they all felt better. They stayed on the floor trying to catch their breath.

"I was being serious Jack. I'm tired."

"I know." Jack said. "You know we can't!"

"I had to try. Please tell me these things have some sort of facilities." Ford said looking at Teal'c. "I'm sticky in places I don't want to be."

"Indeed." he said looking Ford over. Teal'c gave Carter back the staff weapon she had dropped and handing one to Ford.

Carter had dropped it when she ran over and bear hugged him. She had even managed to pop his back with her hug. Now that they were walking back through the, well…battlefield they really noticed what Ford had done. He got a few looks.

"What?"

"You did this?" Daniel asked a little surprised.

"Well….who else could have done it?"

"When you said you were a good fighter, I didn't think this." Carter muttered.

They finally got back into a undamaged section of the ship and they really saw the extent of his messiness. Carter had blood on her uniform and her face. Ford just needed to be dunked into the ocean several times. He was still dripping blood.

"Jeez Ford. What was going through your mind to do this?!"

"I thought you were all dead and lost control. I didn't care what happened as long as they didn't survive." he said almost sadly.

"None of that's yours is it?" Daniel asked.

"No. I don't even have this anymore." he said opening the coat to reveal a large hole in his SGC issued vest and his suit. There was bare skin showing as he realized something. "Dammit! This was a three hundred dollar suit!"

"You got ripped off then." Jack stated. "How are you still alive anyway?"

Ford closed his coat with anger.

"I'll explain later. Would take to long right now. If it is what I think it is."

Teal'c walked ahead taking the lead.

Despite the fact that Ford was back with them they stayed pretty far away. He really stank. Melissa was especially happy to know that their connection was severed so she was able to stay in the back with Daniel. They had found one zat gun and gave it to her. A few more corridors later and then Teal'c stopped.

"This is it." he stated.

It looked like any other door in the wall.

Ford didn't care to ask he just walked in not waiting for any explanations or anything. Daniel followed in after him. A minute later Daniel came out and muttered something. Jack and Teal'c went in with him following. Jack said to keep watch as they went in.

"It's strange when men go into a bathroom as a group." Lara said.

"Oh! That's what that room is." Mel said. "I thought it was a place to clean clothes."

"I'm just wondering if it's the coed?" Lara said.

"It's not. It's male Jaffa warriors that I've only seen on these ships. Even the Goa'uld's that have female host still keep males around for fighting. Woman are considered to be of a lesser status." Carter said angrily.

"That figures." Lara said crossing her arms.

They chatted about women things for a few minutes when Ford came out with Teal'c helping him walk.

"What happened?" Carter asked with some concern. It was hard to tell in some ways.

"I fell and broke my leg. What didn't help was the knock out I received from hitting the floor. I seem to be a klutz today."

"How are you walking then?" Lara asked.

"I explain later when I have time."

They saw that he was cleaned off though. Not even wet anymore. His coat looked pretty bad though. Many area's had burns, staff blast impacts and tore to shredded sections. The metal plates of Adamantium were showing in some places. He took a quick look to make sure they were all still there. They were, mostly from the Kevlar that had melted around them.

Jack and Daniel came out shaking their heads.

"There was blood everywhere!" Jack exclaimed waving his arms. "When he hit the ground it spattered. Fortunately this place seems to be self cleaning."

"Here's your sword back." Daniel said giving the now clean blade to him.

"Thanks." he said putting it back in its sheath.

The ladies walked in while the guys waited outside. Ford went through his…inventory.

"Hmm. Still got quite a few clips left. Just over a dozen or so grenades. A lot of fast loaders. Still a lot of shells. I'm doing pretty good. Hmm, one of my special grenades are missing."

"Lucky you. We're out." Jack said sarcastically.

"Sorry Colonel. I don't have any clips for those PC-90's on me. Remind me and I'll find a spot to bring them next time. Not like I got through all my ammo anyway. Don't remember ever doing so either. Hmm."

"I'll do that."

Once the ladies came out they took off heading for the bridge. They came across no one until they got near the bridge. Two Samurai warriors were standing there. They turned pulling their swords quickly.

"Shoot 'em." Jack said.

Even though the staff blast were a very fast attack, the Samurai's deflected the shots with their swords. Several came back at them were Ford blocked them with various area's of his coat. They stopped shooting seeing it was getting them nowhere. For some reason the swords absorbed the zat gun shots.

"Idea's?" Jack asked.

Mel whispered something into Jack's ear quickly as they backed up.

Jack made a few signals that he hoped would be lost on the approaching warriors. He counted off three seconds with his fingers. On three they all fired hitting the guy on the right. He tried to block, but several hit him taking him apart in some places. They tried it on the other guy and he went down quickly.

"That worked. Thanks Mel." Jack said.

They looked around the corner keeping watch as Lara grabbed the other two swords. They were a little different in design, but seemed the same. They entered sweeping the room. No one was there.

"I think we took out whatever forces were protecting this place sir." Carter stated. She checked the computer with Teal'c as the others kept looking.

"What we came up against sir was warriors in suspended animation that came to life when one of us set off the alarm." she said.

Things finally seemed to be going their way when the ship made an all too familiar noise.

"Carter? What did you do?" Jack asked.

"I don't think I did anything sir."

"The ship has been set to self-destruct O'Neill. I believe it was preprogrammed to do so in the event the ship was captured." Teal'c stated looking through some files on the screen.

"I agree sir. It seems what we're looking at is a preprogrammed trap."

Makes perfect sense.

No kidding Herc.

"Absolutely unbelievable." Ford muttered. He mumbled something else that only Jack heard. He agreed, but not openly.

"How much time Carter?"

"Fifteen minutes, I think."

"You think?!"

"It's fifteen minutes sir. I'm sure!"

"Can we stop it?"

"Maybe…..I'm not sure."

"Then let's get moving. We can use the death gliders to get out of here." Jack said pushing Carter away from the computer and practically pulling her along. "Any other time I might let you look, right now we need to go."

"I think I can stop it sir. I just need to go to the engine room and switch a few crystals around."

"I'll go with her. I can get her out in time."

"You probably could Ford but it's still no. We are leaving, that's final." Jack said still pulling her along. She wasn't really trying to fight him.

"You going to ever let go sir?"

"When you promise not to run off and try to save the ship."

When she didn't answer right away he took that as a sign to keep pulling. They finally got to a place where the ring system was and got inside it. Teal'c activated it sending them down to the glider section. Jack let her go as he blasted the controls.

"Sir?"

"You can't leave on me now."

"Sir, if this ship goes blows up, then it might take a large section of the Great Wall or some village."

Jack fought with himself visibly as he realized what she said. "Dammit Carter! Somebody give me the time!!!"

"Ten minutes Jack." Daniel said.

"Get out of here Jack. We'll stop the ship." Ford said dropping the staff weapon and picking up Carter. She certain was surprised as was everyone else when he turned and ran away quickly. They heard a door break as then more running. When Jack didn't say anything, Daniel figured something was wrong.

"Jack?"

"O'Neill?" Teal'c asked when Jack didn't respond to Daniel.

"I don't know what's more surprising. The fact he just left or the fact Major Carter didn't fight back against being tossed over a shoulder. All I know is they better come back alive so I can kick their asses personally. Jesus Christ!" he said tossing the staff weapon aside. "Lets get out of here before I decided to go after them."

It didn't take long for them to get into the gliders. Daniel and Mel got in one while Jack and Lara took another. Teal'c had one for himself. With the force field down they had no trouble exiting. They headed directly for the top with Teal'c firing a few shots. They penetrated something and flew out into a large empty section of some area in China. Miles of untouched land stretched before them as they landed near the open hole.

Ford continued running with Carter over his shoulder despite the fact that she kept telling him to put her down. He stopped at a door and set her down as he pushed a few buttons on a panel. Nothing happened.

"Ford….if…" she was saying sounding angry.

"Not now Sam. Stand back." he said grabbing the door. It gave rather easily under his intense strength.

"Get in!" he said lifting the door up quickly.

She didn't argue and got over to the engine system. Ford came in behind her after making sure the door wouldn't close.

"We've got to pull…" she started saying as Ford followed her orders. The started tossing aside crystals while placing others in slots.

"Time?"

"Four minutes maybe three."

"Wonderful date huh?" she said with some humor.

"Excellent accommodations." he muttered pulling another. "Food service sucks, but then I forgot to cook so…"

She chuckled as she kept working.

"You still there Colonel?" Sam asked quickly into her com.

"We're here Carter."

"If this begins to explode. Blow up the top above us. The falling ceiling might keep the explosion from going very far."

"That won't happen Carter. You'll get the system shut down before then. You still have two minutes."

"Yes sir."

"Let us know when there's thirty seconds left huh Jack." Ford said tossing a broken in half crystal aside.

They kept at it going as fast as they could. Jack suddenly came through the com saying they had thirty seconds.

"Wonderful. I thought I could do this." Carter said.

"We can." he said continuing what he remember from Carter's talks.

"I…." she said still working.

"Concentrate Sam. We can…" he was saying when suddenly the lights went out everywhere. He tapped the blue crystal in his hand a few times then pocketed it with a few others. "Only have to move two more if I remember right."

"Yeah, just a red one and a green one." she said.

"Zero seconds." they heard through their com lines.

"No explosion sir. No power. All these years of sitting here must have drained the naquada." Carter responded back. "Suspended animation systems take quite a bit of power."

"Like she said. No power, no boom. Talk about dumb luck." Ford said looking for a light. He knew it was on his vest somewhere. "There it is."

The small light came on and then died just as quick. Carter tried hers and it came on with no problem showing nothing had changed in the room.

"Any idea's Carter?"

"I'm……" she started saying when a bright light engulfed them.

As the light left, Ford moved in front of Carter. Jack was there as was the rest of the team.

"O'Neill."

They turned to see, of all the people in the world, or universe I guess, Thor.

"Thor, buddy! How's it going?"

Thor only nodded, or so it looked like. "We detected the presence of a Goa'uld ship and came immediately. When I didn't see the ship in orbit, I began looking on your planet. I used a dampening field to remove the power from the Goa'uld's ship and weapons."

"Good thing we weren't in those gliders." Daniel said. "Hey, he got Sam and Ford too."

"Oh! You haven't met our new friend and member. Come here Ford." Jack said happily as he motioned Ford over.

Ford came forward and almost could swear that if Thor had a eyebrow it would have been raised.

Thor? Isn't he a Greek god?

You would know. He was back in your time.

I was there on Earth, but not as long as you think.

"You must be the man with the Goa'uld presence I detected."

"Yeah that's me."

"Your physiology is very different from what any Asguard has came across with the humans. May I examine you?"

"I have a symbiont if that's what you're needing to know."

"This information is already known to us. Something else is there that we do not know."
"Scan away." he said shrugging.

"Wait a minute." Jack said as Thor went to touch something on his chair. "What is really going to happen? Are you putting him in a tube? Something else mechanical? What?"

"He will be transported to a tube as you say O'Neill. From there I can make a better determination as to his condition. It will take one of your minutes."

"I'll be fine Jack. Don't worry. He hasn't done anything wrong before." Ford said.

"What about what happened to me, with Loki?"

"Thor isn't that, inept. Besides, I trust Thor."

"You've never seen him before….."

"What are you worried about Jack?" Daniel asked.

"He just, you know….came back and stuff." he said scratching the back of his head.

"Yeah, from the dead. I know. Ignore him Thor."

Thor touched something and Ford vanished. His special coat dropped to the ground with his gun.

"What happened?" Carter asked with fear. "What went wrong?!"

"Nothing has gone wrong. Your friend was carrying unnecessary equipment. I merely changed the transport cycle making it leave those here. He would not have fit in the…tube as O'Neill said with them on." Thor said transporting away.

"Wait a minute!! What do we do?" Jack said looking around.

"I think we wait Jack." Daniel said sitting on the floor. "I'm tired."

"Where are we?" Mel asked.

"That was Thor. We're on his ship. He's an Asguard. He protects Earth from the Goa'uld." Jack said cutting Carter off from a long explanation.

"Right. Same question."

Jack rolled his eyes and waved to Carter who gave a better detailed explanation that she was still giving when Ford was beamed back a minute later.

"It's over already? That was quick. I must have been asleep for the procedure." he said looking around.

Feeling a slight draft and weight loss he realized his coat was missing. He picked it up as Thor came back.

"Your DNA is very different from any other human we have came across. You are still human, but you are very different."

When he started giving a more scientific explanation, Jack stopped him.

"Carter please go get a better explanation." Jack said. "One I can understand."

"Yes sir." she said as Ford barely suppressed a laugh.

Thor explained the information he found to her and Ford since they would understand it better. He showed them the results on a holographic screen. It took Carter awhile to see what Thor had found. Ford got it quicker, but said nothing and walked away rubbing his chin. The others didn't do much except chat. Daniel still didn't understand how Jack had figured out how to beat the chess game so well.

"I just know Daniel. Leave it alone will ya."

"It just doesn't seem like you….."

"Have the intelligence?" Ford suggested.

He got a hard glare from Jack for that. Ford gave him a wink that Jack only noticed giving him a sign he actually knew better. Jack did notice and glared harder.

"Yeah. I just didn't want to say it that way though." Daniel said.

"I got the same impression." Lara said.

"Not you too!" Jack exclaimed. "Here think about it this way, I looked at it as a battlefield. Any great leader would be able to play chess!"

"That does make more sense." Daniel said.

"Thank you."

"I still think it's almost unbelievable." Daniel stated.

Jack audibly groaned making Ford laugh.

"Since Carter is busy and won't be hearing me ask this….ummm…." Jack said moving closer.

"Oh god." Ford muttered aloud.

"Where is that mole she mentioned?"

"Good grief Jack, you never let up! And I don't know. Even when I was in her body, I didn't look."

Carter came back over as Thor spoke.

"Your results are very peculiar Primus. The Asguard will need to study your blood sample on a closer level. You will not need stay. Unfortunately I am needed back at the Asguard home world. I shall return you to your SGC. I will be taking the Goa'uld ship with me."

"Why? We really could use it?!" Jack said as they were transported away.

They all ended up right in front of the Stargate.

"He did that on purpose!"
Ford almost said something cocky or sassy, depending on how you put it, but he stopped at the last minute.

"You going to say something?" he snapped.

"No Jack. Nothing at all." he said as innocently as possible with raised hands.

"Me neither." Daniel said when he got looked at.

"SG-1! How did you get back?!" Hammond said coming into the room with a bunch of soldiers.

"Hey General! Our buddy Thor stopped by and took the ship from us and sent us home."

"Did he say why?" the General asked.

"No. I tried to ask, but he sent us home as I did."

"Well at least you're all here and alive. Everyone alright?"

"Interesting experiences sir, but otherwise we are okay. Something's up with Ford though."

"What do you mean?" Hammond said with his eyes closing some.

That reminded him, he had to speak to Ford about something he learned while they were away.

"I was…" Ford started.

"Ford was.." Carter started.

"He was.." Jack started.

"He…." Daniel started.

They all stopped and looked at each other.

"Briefing people. One hour." Hammond said seeing this was going to be a long story.

Janet was in the meeting per request of Jack and Carter. Thor had given Carter a device that allowed her to show the others what he found out, but the basic's since the Asguard had to do a more through scan on his DNA. Hammond first had them give him a report on what happened during there search for the Goa'uld ship. They left out Ford's bet with the Colonel. When they got to the part about Ford going down, Carter said she'd explain it better and so did Ford, who stated he knew what was causing it. Lara and Melissa were still there as well. Lara was mostly there to be told that everything that happened was classified and that she had to sign a certain document of non disclosure. Which she did.

"Okay Major, fill us in on what the Asguard found."

Carter pushed a few button and the screen came on showing a normal strand of human DNA while a second picture showed Ford's DNA. There was a significant difference if you knew where to look. Other information crossed the screen as she talked.

"From what I learned, Ford has a few extra strands of DNA that are not found anywhere else in any animal or human or anything I've ever seen. Even the Asguard have never seen anything like it. Thor suspects that because this particular strand has a different quantum signature, that Ford is capable of….as strange as it sounds…..crossing universes possibly. His quantum signature seems to be in a state of flux. That's probably how he ended up here and how we ended up in the other universe by using the Stargate. Everyone has a quantum signature, with it we can tell if you're in the right universe or not. Ford's is the same, yet different. Somehow he can tap into….something and travel to another universe, a theory Thor stated was possibly. I don't know how though and I'm guessing that Ford doesn't either. Thor activated it for a moment and Ford disappeared for a few seconds, then returned just as quickly. He wasn't sure were he went though."

Ford shook his head saying he didn't know.

"Ford also has something else in his DNA that makes him invulnerable to being taken as a host. Its drawback is that he cannot access the Goa'uld or in this case, Tok'ra, memories without the symbiont allowing him to. Same goes for Ford. Unfortunately the symbiont can cause him harm. It could have caused him death but that's where this other deeply embedded and unknown….I really don't know what to call it. It's something that is deep inside his blood that regenerates him in the event of death. Essentially sir, Ford can't die as long as his body can regenerate itself."

"I'm what is called by a group that has been around for god only knows how long, an Immortal. I can't die. Hercules said that I can still have children though which I don't understand. In any case, anything that would…you know like a vat of acid or lava something that pretty much disintegrates the body, that can kill me. The only true way to kill me is to cut off my head. So much for an uneventful life." Ford said rolling his eyes.

Hammond looked at them like they might be joking.

"He's right sir. While we were down in the infirmary Ford slit his wrist to demonstrate. Within a few moments there was no cut mark, not even a scar."

"A lot of blood though. He should have passed out General, but he didn't. It was like nothing had happened." Janet said.

"How do you know about what you are?" Hammond asked.

"Just another thing from my universe. I'm not the only Immortal on this planet. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands or even millions. You can really tell an Immortal if their wearing or caring a sword with them at all times. That sword was one I found off one of the Samurai's that attacked us." Ford pointed out.

"You said a group of people watch these Immortals. I assume you know what they call themselves."

"Yes. They are an organization called the Watchers. I do have one thing going for me though."

"And that is?" Jack said breaking in.

"As long as I don't kill anyone, and I mean ever, or I should say any Immortal by taking their head or making them truly dead, I will eventually grow old and die. Now if I get killed per say in the line of duty, I'll just get up in a minute or so. But I'm not sure how long I could do that. Apparently in order to really keep your immortality, you have to play the game, or so I think that's the theory. This thing with the Immortals fighting to be the last one standing is just a game, but I never did understand why or the prize."

"Can you give me any names?"

"Sorry sir. Call it a unspoken covenant. I can't tell you. Essentially, once I got home, I should have left SGC according to they call it. What I was suppose to have done was left the ship leaving the other's behind, so the rules state. Forgive my bluntness here but no order from you or anyone else will make me tell. I have to keep silent. To dangerous to tell the government. If they went after them and tried to study them, a serious war would possibly start that could possibly start a nuclear war. If you catch my drift. If Thor can't find anything on why I am immortal, then our government won't either. Wouldn't stop them from trying though."

"I can understand that. What else can you tell me?"

Ford spent about half an hour telling what he remembered from the movies without mentioning them as movies and what he remembered about the show. He left out names though except the ones he knew were dead. Hammond nodded and then asked.

"Now, what about this James Bond?"

"Call MI6 in England. They can give you better information. But I can tell you a few things."

He told them about several of the movies he had seen while again not explaining them being movies.

"I'll try getting hold of MI6 if you have nothing else. Oh, Agent Gibbs called a few hours after you all left to inform me of a new development. The Kinsey you shot was a clone. Somehow, someway a clone was made and from the information I've been getting from friends and sources, Kinsey is trying to get rid of you personally. Possibly with help from the rogue units of the N.I.D. Unfortunately, there is no proof."

"That doesn't surprise me. He wants the SGC and he'll do anything to get it. If he comes here, he'll probably leave in a body bag or worse. That is if he threatens me."

"I'm beginning to hate that scum bag even more than ever." Jack said.

"I'm just sorry that I didn't kill the real one."

"I hope for your sake you don't see him. I can't bail you out of killing a Senator that is trying for President of the United States." Hammond said.

"He's what?! Great! If he gets that position, I'm retiring and moving to another planet." Jack stated.

"No kidding." Ford said. "At least you could look forward to fishing for new species of fish."

"That is a good idea." Jack exclaimed feeling better.

"We have another problem that I'll tell you about in the morning. Right now you all look like you need rest. Get your reports finished and then go home. I'll see you all at 0900. Miss Croft, you will be escorted to a private plane to take you home after being briefed about our classification protocols. Melissa, you can go home at your convenience. Another thing though Ford. I'm going to have you and your house watched until I deem it otherwise necessary when your off base."

"What if the Major is with me?"

"That will be fine, but if she's not then you get someone to. Since we know little about these Immortals, I don't need you to get beheaded. You're to valuable."

"Thanks sir." Ford said with a smile.

"That's right you. You serve a very important purpose, other than keeping Carter happy." Jack said.

Ford actually was surprised that Jack said that. Carter blushed but kept herself professional.

"Sir."

"It's true. I see you light up every time he helps with some project none of us can understand. You finally have someone on your level that everyone likes. Unlike that guy McKay."

"Since there is nothing else, you're dismissed." Hammond said getting up with a smile.

Everyone else got up and started heading out. Melissa said her goodbye's and took her leave. Lara said goodbye and then headed out with an escort. Jack went off looking for Jello before he headed home. Being late at night they all ate in the commissary. Surprisingly their vehicles were waiting for them when they got to the parking garage. As they went their separate ways Carter went home with Ford since he lived near her house. Her rental truck wasn't there among the other vehicles.

"What was with that comment about having children?" Carter asked.

"Immortals can't have children. I don't know the specifics really. Hercules says that it's mostly because of him that I can. I hope to be a father someday."

"Strange. Well what if two Immortals get together?"

"Gender don't matter. They still can't have children."

"I can't even imagine living forever."

"I couldn't do it. Not if you were gone."

Carter only smiled as they pulled into her driveway. Ford helped her out of his car and walked her to the door. They kissed then said goodnight. Ford got back in his car and headed home. The mail behind the door was stacked up, but otherwise everything looked fine. He dropped his equipment off in the secret room then showered followed by dropping into bed. He thought he'd sleep well when he realized the next mission they would be having. Nightmares flooded his dreams. Even Hercules was disturbed by the dreams and he couldn't stop them.