I'm back from three days on a beautiful island off the Pacific Northwest coast. I got to see seals and a pod of Orca whales! I didn't get any time to write but here is one chapter from this evening. I hope you enjoy.
"But I don't understand why you won't at least consider the possibility that it was you Sir", Sam was seated across from him in the Commissary eating breakfast. It was early and there was no one else there yet, except for the person working behind the counter - who wasn't paying them any attention.
"Because Carter, I don't have any special powers. I mean, it's not that I wouldn't have wanted to save you guys, but I didn't do it. It was something on that planet."
"Okay, so say it was. How come we couldn't find anything? SG3, 5 and 6 all went back and none of them found a thing. We even sent Drs. Lee and Rasmussen and they didn't find anything."
"So, they probably didn't know what to look for." When she looked skeptical he rolled his eyes. "I don't know Carter. Maybe it just happens when someone is in danger or something. Or who knows, maybe it was just luck. It could have been that the two of you were standing in the one spot that escaped the – "
" -the tons of rocks and wood that came crashing down everywhere?", she asked, her brows raised.
"Look – I just know I don't have powers."
"But Sir, the box -"
"Uh uh uh Carter", he shook his finger at her. "No powers!"
"Alright fine Colonel", she sighed. "I guess we'll chock up what happened to another 'unknown alien phenomenon'", she said. "You might just want to -"
"- forget the whole thing", he interrupted. "I want to finish today's mission, go home, shower, eat and turn the stereo on and listen to some classical music. I do not want to think about alien anything."
She laughed. "Okay Sir. I don't blame you – I must admit that sounds rather nice."
He was within half a second of inviting her over when he stopped himself. No, it would not be appropriate even though it sounded wonderful. "You like classical music Major?" he asked. As much as he knew about her, there were still some things that were still unknown. The fact that he wanted to know them was something he'd been thinking about much too much lately.
"Yeah", she answered. "I don't go to live concerts – at least I haven't for years – but I've always liked listening. I like other kinds of music too, but after a stressful mission I find it particularly relaxing."
"Jack.", a very bleary eyed Daniel made his way to their table, carrying a full cup of steaming coffee. He plunked himself down heavily and breathed in the aroma from his cup. "Oh yeah", he sighed. "Who was the one who called the mission for this early?" he asked.
"Uh, that would be me", O'Neill replied, a slight grin on his face. There was no one who hated getting up in the morning quite like their resident archaeologist. "Because of the time difference on P-whatever, we have to get going early or we'll miss most of their daylight."
"Oh. Well we should have gone last night then", he replied. "Mornin' Sam", he said, as if just realizing she was seated at the table as well. "You here already?"
"Yes Daniel", she grinned. "I've been here for over an hour."
Daniel muttered something into his coffee cup.
"What was that Jackson?" Jack asked.
"I said you military types are insane", he repeated. "You know, if you all slept more there'd probably be less wars in the world."
Jack grinned. "You think sleeping in would result in less armed conflicts?"
"Sure it would. A good night's sleep, a rich cup of coffee and everything looks much better. People are happier when they're well-rested you know."
"Okay, we'll tell the powers that be to let everyone sleep longer as a way to bring world peace." Jack stood up. "In the meantime Daniel, we have a briefing in five minutes. You'd better hurry up or you're going to be late – and you know don't want to tick off your team leader. He can be a real pain when he's irritated."
Jack, followed closely by Carter, was almost out of the Commissary before Daniel put up his head. "But you're my team leader Jack."
"Exactly Daniel!" Jack said as he left the room.
It was another mundane mission to a boring planet, and this time there were no near-death experiences for himself or any of his teammates. "Okay campers, time to go home. It's getting late and we don't want our Jaffa to start getting fussy!"
"I do not get fussy O'Neill", Teal'c said calmly. "I am more than happy to stay longer if there is need."
"Really?" Jack asked, sounding surprised. "Well, in that case. Daniel, Carter", he called. "Teal'c says he's happy to stay so you can keep looking for – stuff!"
Both his science twins turned to him in dismay. He wanted to grin. They were as bored and as anxious to get home as he was. He then turned to Teal'c and almost laughed when he saw the big man's pained expression. Gotcha Teal'c, he thought. "So Teal'c, I'll head back and tell General Hammond that you guys are staying for a while. How much time do you think? Another day?"
"I believe that Daniel Jackson and Major Carter do not see the need to remain O'Neill. Although I would be pleased to stay with them, I believe it would be more useful for us to return to earth and prepare for another, more fruitful mission."
"Hah! You're bored Teal'c, admit it!"
Teal'c looked at him without expression. "Indeed O'Neill. I believe the expression is I am 'bored to death."
"Thought so! Daniel, Carter", he called again. "Pack up, we're going home."
Both of them looked relieved and immediately began to pack their equipment. They did it faster than usual as if afraid that the Colonel would change his mind.
"You're a fraud Teal'c, you know that!"
"I am not O'Neill. If anyone is a fraud, I believe it to be you."
"What? What are you saying?" O'Neill looked at him in surprise.
"That you are refusing to admit to your abilities and that it was you who saved Daniel Jackson and Major Carter. I believe you do yourself a disservice."
Jack went to deny it again, but could tell, from Teal'c's expression, that the Jaffa wasn't buying it. He sighed and rubbed his hands through his hair. "Look Teal'c – I don't know okay? I don't know what happened. I certainly didn't do anything – at least not consciously. I do know that if it's true – I can't let anyone know or my life would be hell. They'd never let me go. I also don't want special powers. I wouldn't even know what to do with them. So – maybe – I had something to do with it, but I'd really rather just forget about it, okay?"
Teal'c stared at him for a moment and then bowed his head in acknowledgement. "I understand and I will not say anymore. I just do not want to see you hurt O'Neill. I believe that you need to acknowledge your abilities and learn how to use them wisely, otherwise you may find yourself in – difficulties."
Jack sighed again and nodded. "I – hear ya Teal'c. I'll see, okay? Just please don't say anything to Daniel or Carter. I'd rather keep this between the two of us."
"I shall not, although I believe they are already aware of the situation."
"I haven't fooled them huh?" Jack said, looking somewhat sheepish.
"No, you have not."
That evening, as Jack sat and listened to his music, he thought about what Teal'c had said. He knew he had to stop avoiding the issue. He himself wasn't convinced that he'd done anything but, on the off chance he did have some kind of power, he really did need to figure it out. What he really wanted was to figure out how not to use them. Although, even as he thought that he remembered that moment when he was sure he'd lost Daniel and Sam and knew that if he did have power, he'd always use it to protect those he cared about.
Just then the phone rang and he looked up, startled. Who would be calling him at this time? He checked his watch and saw that it was almost 11:00.
It turned out to be Walter asking him to go into the SGC. "General Hammond needs to see you Sir", he told the Colonel.
"I'll be right in Walter", he told him. "Uh, my team?"
"I'm contacting them as well Sir. They will all be there."
When he arrived Teal'c and Carter were already in the briefing room. Daniel arrived a couple of minutes later. None of them knew what it was about but things seemed relatively quiet in the SGC so they hoped it wasn't any kind of imminent crisis. Just then the General walked into the room.
"Thank you for coming at such short notice and at such a late hour, SG1", he said. "The reason I had you come in was because we just received a message from Thor."
"What does the little guy want Sir", Jack asked, surprised. It hadn't been that long ago since he'd seen the Asgaard and asked him to take the stupid box.
"He didn't say Colonel. All he did say was that he was requesting your help."
"My -?"
"SG1", the General clarified. "He asked for all of you. He should be here shortly and he asked if he could -"
Just then four beams of light appeared and the team disappeared, one by one.
" – beam you up", the General finished, speaking to an empty room. He sighed and stood up. "Walter", he called. "I'm going to go lie down. Call me if you hear anything."
"Thor, buddy!" Jack said as soon as he arrived on the Asgaard ship. Almost immediately his teammates appeared beside him. "Good, we're all here. So, what was it you wanted with us this – uh - evening?"
"Hello O'Neill, Dr. Jackson, Major Carter, Teal'c", the Asgaard acknowledged each of them formally. "Welcome and thank you for coming."
"Hey, no problemo little buddy. Uh – but why did we come?" O'Neill said, bouncing slightly on his feet.
"Because I transported you to my ship", Thor explained.
"I get that Thor. I mean – why did you transport us? What did you need us for?"
"I see. I asked General Hammond if it would be acceptable for SG1 to help us. The replicators are beginning to cause problems again and my people believe that you have been more successful in dealing with them than the Asgaard so I was asked by the High Council to enlist your aid."
"I see", O'Neill said, sounding pleased. He continued to rock back and forth on his feet. "So, you guys need our help to solve your little problem eh? I guess we're not so 'young' after all."
Thor turned to him and blinked. "The Council believes that your simplistic solutions may be more effective. They believe the replicators are not able to deal with less sophisticated resistance than has been presented by the Asgaard."
Jack frowned, not sure if they'd been complimented or insulted. "Oh", he said. "So – you guys need us to save your butts!"
"Yes O'Neill, we do."
"Thought so", the Colonel grinned. "So Carter – do your stuff!"
"Uh, I don't really know what they want me to do yet Sir", she responded.
"Hey that never stopped you in the past", he said proudly. He turned to Thor. "Carter here can pull solutions out of her – uh – really smart head."
"Indeed O'Neill. Samantha Carter is much respected by the Asgaard as is Daniel Jackson. Our people recognize that they are very intelligent humans."
"Yes!" Jack answered. "They're brilliant Thor. And hey, what about Teal'c?"
"We also have a great deal of respect for him. He is truly a leader among his people and has shown both courage and wisdom in his fight to bring freedom to the Jaffa nation."
"Yup, that's Teal'c all right." Jack stood looking at Thor expectantly.
"What is it O'Neill?" the alien asked. The rest of SG1 were grinning as they watched the interplay between the Colonel and the Asgaard commander.
"Uh – didn't you forget something – ur – someone?" Jack hinted.
Thor looked puzzled for a moment and then blinked again. "Oh, you mean yourself? Surely you know O'Neill that my people regard you as a very special human being?"
"Really?" Jack said proudly. "Special eh?" He glanced at his friends with a knowing look and then turned back to Thor. "So – I'm 'special'", he asked again.
"Indeed you are O'Neill", Thor responded. "Now, may I explain our problem and determine whether or not you are able to help us?"
"Sure", Jack answered. "I'm happy to do what I can."
Daniel almost choked at Thor's blink. He couldn't believe how expressive it was. "Uh – I think he probably needs Sam to help figure it out – at least for now Jack."
"I know that Daniel", Jack said. "However you never know when my specialness will be needed."
This time Sam grinned. "I'm sure we'll need it soon Sir. So Thor – do you want to explain to me what's happening and I'll see what I can do?"
"Yes, thank you Major Carter. Dr. Jackson, you may also be of some assistance. O'Neill, Teal'c, you are welcome to join us or you may prefer to rest until your expertise is required. We have provided a place where you can lie down."
"Yeah – well – I think that sounds good. I'll just rest up so I'm ready when I'm needed. How about you Teal'c?"
"I will as well O'Neill." The two men left with the Asgaard to go do the room with the human and Jaffa sized cots.
When Thor returned he explained to the other two the problem and began to show them what had been done so far. After a couple of hours Sam stood up, a puzzled look on her face.
"Uh Thor, I don't mean to look stupid here but – it looks like you guys have things pretty well under control. I don't know if there's much more we can do that you haven't already thought of."
Daniel too was looking skeptical. Although he didn't understand some of the technical stuff, it didn't appear to him as if there was a pressing need for SG1's help. He was surprised, after Sam spoke, to see what he could only describe as a guilty look on the Asgaard commander's face.
"I must apologize Dr. Jackson, Major Carter, for bringing you here under somewhat false pretences."
"So there really isn't a replicator problem?" Daniel said.
"Oh yes, the replicators continue to be a problem and if you have any new insights it would be greatly appreciated. However, that is not the main reason I requested your presence."
There was a pause while the two humans looked expectantly at the commander. "And the real reason?"
"Was because of O'Neill", Thor explained.
"Jack? Why, what did he do?" Daniel wanted to know. "Should he be here?"
"It is not what he has done Daniel Jackson, it is what he may do."
"May – what do you mean Thor?" Sam asked, now feeling worried.
"We believe that he has the power of the Ancients and that they have now been activated by his use of the Ensenor." When the other two looked blank he explained. "The black box."
"Oh. I knew it", exclaimed Sam. "I knew it was him." She turned to Daniel. "He was the one to save us when the roof collapsed." She then explained to Thor what had happened.
"Yes, that sounds very likely", he agreed. "When I took the Ensenor to some of the scientists on Othalla they were very excited. That excitement turned to worry, however, when they found out that O'Neill had already used it."
"Worried? Why?" Daniel wanted to know.
"Because they understand the power he wields and yet he does not yet recognize it. He also has had no training in how to use it wisely. He could be a danger to himself or others if he does not learn to control his powers."
Sam shook her head. "But he won't even admit that he has them, so how are you possibly going to get him to take any kind of training?"
"It is for that reason that I have brought you all here. The High Council thought it would be best for him to take instruction away from earth, to limit the potential danger. They also feel it is imperative that he begun to understand the responsibility he now holds."
Daniel stood up quickly and paced once around the room. "You mean you want Jack to take on even more responsibiity? Don't you think he already has enough? My god, the man's already saved the planet and the galaxy how many times? I can understand why he doesn't want to admit to any powers, not when they'll probably screw up his life even more."
"We do not want to – 'screw up his life', as you put it Dr. Jackson. Once he knows how to control that which he has he can choose to use it or not. We will certainly not tell anyone on earth, or elsewhere for that matter, about his ability. Also, we do not know what abilities he may have. It is possible that they are minimal."
"Yeah, with Jacks' luck there won't be anything minimal about them!" Daniel looked worried, as did Sam, but for a slightly different reason. She could just imagine him refusing to do anything and then having something bad happen.
"Major Carter, I felt that perhaps you would have the best chance of convincing O'Neill. He respects your opinion and I believe will listen to you."
"I don't know Thor. I've already tried to talk with him about it and he absolutely refuses to listen or admit to anything."
"Who refuses to listen?" O'Neill said from the doorway. Behind him was Teal'c, his eyebrow raised in inquiry.
"Sir!" Sam swung around, looking guilty.
Jack looked over at Daniel and narrowed his eyes. The younger man wouldn't look at him. Something was definitely fishy. "Okay, what's going on here?"
"Nothing Jack", Daniel quickly jumped in. "We were just talking about ur –"
"We were discussing your ancient powers O'Neill", Thor said calmly.
Jack heard the soft 'crap' from Daniel and Sam suddenly seemed interested in a spot on her sleeve. "My powers? What the hell are you talking about? I've told you I don't have any powers! And what the hell does this have to do with the replicators anyway?"
There was silence in the room and Jack looked from one to the other of the people there. It was finally Thor who spoke.
"I apologize O'Neill, you were brought here under somewhat false circumstances. The High Council believes it is important that you understand your powers and learn to use them. They thought if we brought your team it might be easier to convince you."
Jack took a slow breath and spoke in a very quiet voice. "Are you telling me that this was a lie? That we're not here to help you with the replicators? That this was about these mythical powers I'm supposed to have?"
There was silence again and finally Thor nodded. "Yes, I am sorry but that is the case. Please do not be angry at your teammates. They were as unaware as you about the real purpose of your visit."
Jack's nostrils flared and both Sam and Daniel winced. Teal'c kept a close eye on his leader but didn't say anything.
"Turn the ship around and take us back to earth", he ground out slowly. "And no", he held up his hand, "I don't want to hear any more about this ever. I want you to take me home." He swung around and headed for the door.
Thor suddenly looked down at the panel in front of him and began moving crystals around furiously. "O'Neill", he called. "I am sorry, but that will be impossible."
Jack swung around angrily. "And why it that? You're gonna make me go and do what? I'm sorry but you can go to hell, all of you."
"And we will O'Neill, without your help. We are presently surrounded by replicator ships and I am afraid I am unable to return to earth or to Othalla."
