Moving the plot forward a bit in this chapter. More adventure and angst to come in future chapters. Just so people know - I am seriously addicted to reviews and require constant 'dings' on my IPhone telling me I've received one. They provide strength and sustenance to enable me to write quicker and post chapters daily ... just sayin'! (and THANK YOU). Happy Rosh Hashanah to my Jewish readers.

"You're joking, right?" Traman looked back and forth between his friends. "You're telling me you're from another planet?"

"It's the truth Officer Deneil", Administrator Salea told him. "They are from a world called Earth." She smiled. "Which was also our home many years ago."

"This is crazy", he replied. "You're telling me they're aliens. I don't know what this is about, but -"

"They are not lying Traman", he wife said softly. She was looking at Sam and could see the truth in the other woman's eyes. "What is it you need?" she asked them.

"Thank you", Jack smiled at her. "I hate to ask you, but we needed someone we trusted. We need to get some things from our apartment – if the council hasn't already discovered it and then we have to get to Terra Antiqua and find the – uh – gate to the stars – the Stargate. That way we can bring help and protect Terra from the aliens who are attacking us."

"It really is an attack?" Deneil was looking confused and still unsure whether he believed what they'd been told. "Are we in danger?"

"You could be", Sam told him. "We don't know if the defense shield will hold."

Mora gasped and looked at her husband. "The children!"

"That's why we need your help Mora", Sam said. "To protect your children and all the citizens of Terra. We hoped Deneil might be able to help us get the things we needed to make it to the gate."

The Terran couple looked at one another and finally Deneil nodded. "Okay – we'll help if we can. But Mora you need to go home and be with the children. I'll go and bring your things and then stay and help."

"I think it would be a good idea to take the children and go visit relatives", Jack told them. "The Council may find out about you and it's best if you're away from home. Later you can simply claim you were frightened by the lights and wanted to be closer to family."

Mora hugged Jack tightly. "You take care of yourself, you hear! And look after Sam."

"I will, don't worry." He gave her a hug back. "And thank you! You're a good friend."

"And I'll always be one, even if we live on different planets!"

When Sam hugged her both women got tears in their eyes. They didn't say much, but both knew it would probably be the last time they'd ever see each other.

"Take care of yourself and that husband of yours", Mora said, sniffing softly.

"I will – and don't worry – we'll do everything we can to stop this." Sam hugged her again. "I'll miss you!"

"Me too." Mora stepped back and regarded her friends. "I'll miss you both! When you are back on your planet and Jack is all healed, don't forget us."

"Never", Jack smiled.

There was another round of hugs and then Deneil and Mora were gone. They waited mostly in silence for Traman to return. Hopefully he'd be in luck and the Councilors wouldn't have discovered their home as of yet. It was risky for him to go, but their neighbors knew him and wouldn't be worried - and he could be in and out very quickly.

It was almost an hour later before there was a knock and the Administrator stood up. "Jamos will answer it. If it is not Officer Deneil he will not let whoever is there come in."

There was a short moment of silence and then they heard footsteps approach their room. They all let out a sigh of relief when the door opened to show Deneil, a large bag in his hands.

"No one had been to your apartment as of yet", he said. "Don't worry", he held up his hand at Jack's worried look. "I made sure that no one was following me. Here", he walked over and laid the bag down. "Your things."

"Thank you!" Jack leaned forward and opened the bag and began to pull out their weapons and some of the things they'd had in their packs when they'd landed on Terra, including the crystals."

"What are those things", Deneil nodded at the items. "Are they from this – Airth you speak of?"

"Yes – these things are weapons", Jack showed him the P-90 and a zat, "and the other stuff is a variety of things we had with us." He lifted his Air Force survival knife and smiled. "And this is my knife!"

"You really were soldiers?" Deneil asked. "Ones who fought others?"

"Well, mostly we travelled around and explored, although sometimes we fought. But yes, we were soldiers."

"And you miss this life?" Traman asked, looking at his friend.

Jack regarded him for a moment. "I miss – my friends, my world – but I don't miss fighting." He then smiled. "And anyway, I had enough of that here on Terra."

Traman laughed. "That is so. But – you are glad to be going back?"

Again Jack paused. "It is our home", he said, but then continued. "But there is much I will miss here. It has been a good life here Traman, and much of that was because of you and Mora. You are good friends and helped us feel at home."

"That's true Traman", Sam nodded as well. "You and Mora – helped more than you will ever know."

"Even when I was so mean to you", he said with a crooked grin.

"Well, some of that I deserved – and you were only watching out for Jack. How could I be mad at you for that?"

"I will not be able to look out for either of you once you leave", he said, a worried frown on his face.

"No – you will then return to your family and look after them. You will have done enough my friend!" Jack looked over at the man who had become like a brother to him. For the first time it dawned on him that Traman's name reminded him of an amalgam of O'Neill and Daniel. He should have known from the beginning that that meant this was a man who would come to mean a lot to him. "So, now what?"

"So, let's figure out what we need." Deneil took a deep breath and obviously attempted to throw off the somber mood that had descended. He sat down and pulled Jack's list towards him. "These things won't be a problem", he said as he looked at a number of the items, "and I even think I can get you a transport. The boat is going to be difficult."

They spent the next hour working out where Deneil would get the supplies and how and when they'd start for Terra Incognita. How to get across the water was still a problem, which none of them could seem to solve.

"If only we knew someone with a boat", Sam said in frustration. "I mean, there has to be someone who owns one."

"Yes, but they are on the wrong coast", Deneil pointed out. "We need to get to Incognita, not Nova."

"Wait a second – how far is it to the Gola Strait from here?"

"From here? About three hundred kilometers", Deneil told her. "It should only take a few hours in a transport."

"And how far to the east coast – the coast with Nova?"

"It is closer – maybe one hundred kilometers."

"So, the land mass between the east coast and the Gola strait can't be that great."

"Sam – what are you thinking?" Jack new her brain was again moving at lightning speed and he wanted to smile seeing her so much in her element again.

"That we sail around the coast of Antigua until we get to the Gola Strait. Where's the map?" She reached out among all the papers and grabbed the map of Terra Antigua and Terra Nova. "See, if we get a boat from somewhere here", she pointed to the eastern coast which faced the Nova side, "and sailed it north and then west right around the Antigua peninsula, we arrive at the Gola strait. We can then sail straight across to Incognita."

"It's possible", Deneil said, looking at the map. "It still doesn't solve the problem of getting a boat."

"No – but you said yourself there are people who have boats on the east coast. Why couldn't we simply go and get one?"

"You mean steal one?"

"Well, yeah", Sam grimaced. "I wouldn't ask you to do that, but it won't really matter if Jack and I do – not as long as we leave Terra. Look", when Deneil looked hesitant, "we're doing it for your planet. If we can make it through the gate …"

"I know, I know. Just – don't say anymore or I'll have to arrest you", he gave a lopsided grin. "So, that means we have to make it to the coast somewhere down here. I think the best place is to go to Koraya, which is right about – here", he pointed with his finger. "It's something of a resort and there should be pleasure boats there."

"Okay – so we get the boat, we sail it to Incognita and then we walk." Sam looked down at the information she'd written on the most likely gate location and frowned. "It's a long walk", she whispered, looking up at Jack.

He shrugged and grinned. "Don't worry, I'll make it."

They all knew that it was highly unlikely that Jack could walk the hundreds of kilometers needed to get to the Stargate. They'd have to go slowly and none of them believed they had that long – not if the Goa'uld kept up their attack.

"There has to be another way", she cried, slamming her hand down on the table.

"Sam!" he reached over and took her hand. "I'll make it."

"No – no you won't", she said, her voice quavering. "Maybe it's best if you do stay here and I go alone. Even if they capture you, they won't hurt you and I can bring help."

"No way", Jack shook his head. "I'm not chancing it and I'm not letting you go by yourself."

"I'll go with her", Deneil stated grimly.

"No you won't", Jack shook his head. "You have a wife and family you need to look after. Look, isn't there some kind of vehicle we can use – like a motorcycle or something? We could take that over on the boat and use it when we got to Incognita."

"That's brilliant Jack", Sam exclaimed, staring at him in wonder.

"Hey, I can be brilliant occasionally", he smirked, causing her to laugh.

"What is a moto- saykole?" Traman looked at them in confusion, as did Salea.

"It's a vehicle – with only two wheels. It's – here", Sam grabbed a piece of paper and quickly sketched it out. "There", she showed the paper to the two Terrans. "Do you have anything like that?"

They both looked at it and then shook their heads. "No, I have not seen anything like it", Salea told them. "Have you Officer Deneil?"

"No", he shook his head as well, although he had an arrested expression on his face. "No, I have not seen anything like this, however I am thinking of something that might work." He looked over at Salea and grinned. "What about a traxet?"

"A –" Salea laughed and Jack and Sam looked at her in surprise. They hadn't heard much laughter from her. "That's possible, although where could we get one at this hour?"

"I know a man who rents them and he – uh – owes me a favor. No, no", he exclaimed when the others looked at him curiously, "I didn't do anything wrong. His son was being bullied by some kids at school and I spoke to them." He grinned. "I put the fear of god into them! According to Samor they didn't bother his son anymore after that."

Jack laughed and sat back. "Okay, so what the heck is a traxet?"

"We – ell, it's a small transport."

Salea snorted but only shook her head when Jack looked at her. "He can explain."

"Deneil?"

"It is a - small transport, like I said. It's used to teach beginners how to operate a vehicle. It is much smaller than a real transport. At the most it holds two people and it's not terribly fast -"

"You can say that again", the Administrator chortled. "It's basically a baby transport – and no, I don't mean for babies. It's in miniature and used for beginners. People also sometimes take their children to drive them and they can also rent versions of them when their children are old enough to learn to operate a transport. They're considered less dangerous."

"How come I've never seen one", Jack frowned.

"Because they're not driven on the roads. You have to go to a special track to drive them."

"Oh my god", Sam laughed. "They sound like go-karts."

"You mean to tell me we're going to head to the gate in a go-kart?" Jack looked horrified.

Deneil laughed. "It will be a tight fit O'Neill, but at least you won't have to walk."

The moment of levity cheered everyone up, although Jack was not looking forward to the trip. He would have raised more of a fuss except for two reasons: one, he knew it would make Sam feel better if they had a way to travel that wasn't walking and two, he really didn't think he could walk for that distance. So, a go-kart it was. He grimaced when he thought about how squished he was going to be.

"Okay, so how do we get the go-kart – ur Traxet - from here to the coast, and will it fit on a boat?" He looked at his co-conspirators and saw their brain cells all working furiously. He rested his head on the back of the couch and closed his eyes. He really didn't think he could do much more tonight.

"Jack. Jack!" He jerked awake, lifting his head and trying to open eyes that felt like they were permanently glued shut.

"What? What?" He looked around, to see only Sam sitting with him. "Where are Deneil and Salea", he asked, looking around the room.

"You've been asleep for almost two hours", she explained. "Someone came by a few minutes ago and the Administrator is talking to him. I think it's one of the Council members", she said quietly, looking worried. "Traman went to start collecting the things and getting the traxet."

"Did you discover how we were going to get it to the coast?"

"We think so", she smiled. "But don't worry about that for now. Administrator Salea had some food sent in. You need to eat."

"So do you", he told her, pulling himself upright and leaning forward to take a plate of food. He watched Sam closely and noticed the tension around her eyes – and the tiredness. "You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah", she smiled. "I'm feeling a bit rusty though. I hope we've remembered everything we need."

"Don't worry", he reached out and put his hand on her knee. "We've got everything covered we can – and as for being rusty – hell, a rusty Samantha Carter is better than 99% of anyone else. I have complete confidence in you."

"What about you Jack?" she asked, looking at him with piercing eyes. "How are you holding up?"

"Me? I'm fine. I'm – look the rest helped and I've been sitting on my butt all day. I'll be just fine Sam, especially since we'll be riding in a – small – transport."

"A go-kart you mean", she grimaced. "God, I hope this is going to work."

"It will work Major", he said sternly. "Sam, look at me."

After a few seconds she lifted her head and focused on him. She was transported back, for a moment, to that freezing cave in Antarctica.

"Sam – we will make it home. We are going to get out of here."

"Is that an order Sir" she said with a faint smile.

"Of course it is Major – and If you disobey me ….!"

"You'll put me on report?"

"You bet your sweet ass I will Major!" he barked. A moment later he was hugging her and whispering softly in her ear. "We really will make it Sam. Please, have faith."

"The Council knows who you are", Salea announced as she walked in, closing the door behind her. "That was Barus. He is an arrogant ass, but he is honest. He wanted to tell me, he said, so that I could exercise caution. He made it sound as if he was warning me against you – but I think he really suspects that I know where you are. I don't think he is suspicious you are here, but I think it's time you leave. I may end up having them return to search my house."

"Nice bunch", Jack told her.

Salea shook her head. "They are too complacent. They have never really weathered a crisis before and now – when they could stand and do what's right – they look for scapegoats. When this is over I think I'm going to resign."

A few minutes later Jamos let Deneil in. He walked into the room with only a small sack and they all looked at him in disappointment.

"Hey", his eyes scittered around the room. "Why so glum?"

"Didn't you get all the supplies?"

"Of course I did Jack – oh man of little faith. They're in the traxet. I also took your weapons and other supplies there."

It was only then that Jack realized they're things were gone. He cursed to himself – he really wasn't at his best. "And where is this traxet?" he asked.

Deneil grinned. "It is parked down the street. Unfortunately, you will have to walk there."

"Great", Jack shook his head. He was sure the Council would be watching Salea's house by now and getting out would be a bugger.

"But not as yourselves", Traman said. "I've brought some disguises." With a flourish he turned the sack upside down and out fell a tangle of fabric. He spent a few seconds separating everything and then handed Jack a stack of clothing. "Go put that on. Administrator Salea, Sam will also need a place to change."

She nodded. "Come Samantha, you can come with me. You probably feel like cleaning up a bit anyway."

A few minutes later, Jack and Sam stood before the two Terrans, who were nodding their heads.

"No way", Jack shook his head. "Over my dead body!"

"But no one will recognize you and that's what's important." Deneil coaxed. "Come on, it's not that bad."

"Okay, then you wear the damn thing!" Jack stood there dressed in a – dress. That, along with a gray-haired wig, a purse and shoes, made him out to be a rather homely woman. "I'm huge", he said. "No one's gonna think I'm a woman."

"They will if you round your shoulders and bend down a bit. And look, there's a cane. You'll just look like a tall, thin old woman. I think this costume is great", Sam exclaimed. "You just need a bit more make-up -"

"No! No way. I will not wear make-up." He then looked at Sam and groaned. "Why do you get to look cute and I get to look like an idiot?"

"I'm naturally cute?" Sam said in reply.

"Oh – and does that mean I'm naturally an idiot?"

She grinned and didn't say anything, but stood in front of him dressed as a security officer, resplendent in a uniform complete with hat, which adequately covered her long-ish blond hair.

"Officer Carter will escort you O'Neill", Deneil told him. "You are an old lady who has trouble walking and is all crippled up with swollen joints. She will take you down the street until you come to a security transport truck. You are carrying supplies to the coastal precinct. O'Neill, when you are at the edge of the city you must get into the back and hide in case the transport is stopped. Sam, Jan Overlaw is waiting there and he will drive you to the coast. You are his fellow officer, Daron Smythe. Can you pretend to be a man?"

"Of course", she said, her voice deepening. "It will be dark so hopefully I'll pass."

"Here", Traman handed her some papers. "These are official papers giving you permission to travel."

Sam glanced at them and frowned. "But they've been signed by Administrator Rallay." She glanced up at Deneil.

"What can I say – Rallay and the men of the precinct all stand behind Jack – and you. In fact, some of them are out there now looking for Jack on behalf of the Council."

"What? But you said they would stand behind him."

"They are looking in all the wrong places", he grinned. "They are also getting a number of reports that a man answering Jack and your descriptions was seen heading north. Someone said that there was a cabin up there, in the mountains, and that the two of you often went there to get away. The majority of the forces are being deployed on the northern roads and some to the west. They do not suspect that you will go east."

Administrator Salea laughed. "I see we'll have to watch our security forces – in the future", she said. "You have many friends here", she said to the two of them.

Jack and Sam were both overwhelmed at the display of confidence and friendship that they were being shown, but not they knew it was time to go.

Jack stood up slowly, feeling old and stiff and wondering if he was actually going to make it. Sam reached out and took his hand and then they both looked at their friend.

"I – don't know what to say Traman", Jack said softly. "Other than you are my friend – my brother – and I will never forget you."

Traman looked sad. "I won't forget you either Jack. Who knows – maybe one day you'll come back and we can get together again, the four of us."

"I'd like that", Jack told him, putting out his hand. Traman looked at it briefly, then he reached out and pulled Jack into a hug.

"Be safe my friend and get yourself back to your Airth."

"Thank you", Jack rested his head, for a moment, on his friend's shoulder. "You be safe too – look after those kids of yours and give Mora a hug for me." He finally let go and stepped back.

"Thank you", Sam said, also giving him a hug. "You are a true friend."

"Now go, the two of you, before the Council figures out that you aren't in the mountains!"

With a smile Jack and Sam thanked the Administrator and then, with one more goodbye to Traman, they left.

"So – here starts our next mission", Jack said softly as they walked down the street.

"Yes. To the Stargate and home."

Jack nodded. "To the Stargate – and home."