Chapter Seventeen
Sitting beside Terri's tub a week later, Taryn smiled as one of the symbionts swam around her hand. "How long does it take them to grow up?" She asked, letting the symbiont wrap itself around her wrist lightly.
"It takes month for the symbionts to be ready to be place in a Jaffa." Terri said.
"So, they're going to be here a while?" she laughed
"A little while, too long for dad's comfort." Terri smiled. "How is Athena?"
"Hmmm" Taking her hand out, Taryn watched as the symbiont swam away from her while she pushed her hair back behind her ear while he eyes started to glow. "You worry too much, Sister." Athena said softly, laying her head on the edge of the tub and looking up at Terri.
"I worry just enough, you should be sleeping." Aphrodite said.
"I have had a week's worth of rest." She said with a roll of her eyes. "Besides, it's not as if I am doing much. Talking does not drain my energy any longer."
"Do the leaders of this base know you can surface?" Aphrodite asked.
"I'm to have a 'meeting' at 17:00 hours." She said dismissively. "I believe General Hammond and Colonel O'Neill will be the only one's there."
"And her powers?" Aphrodite raised an eyebrow.
"I was thinking of surprising them." She smiled playfully. "Though I guess it would only confuse General Hammond if I tried to show up in her Male form."
"Male form?" Aphrodite asked.
"She dislikes being female all the time. she simply does it to hide that she can change." She said dismissively. "I don't understand why they feel the need to hide. These powers are fantastic."
"I have noticed that this society of humans are very judgmental creatures." Aphrodite said. "They did not accept my presence in their friend and loved one at first. Some of them still don't."
"I have noticed that this society of humans are very judgmental creatures." Aphrodite said. "They did not accept my presence in their friend and loved one at first. Some of them still don't."
"i have noticed that as well." Athena sighed "The one named Michael has been avoiding her. She's worried."
"It might have something to do with their father, as well." Aphrodite said.
"Colonel O'Neill simply looks... Uncomfortable." She shrugged. "I think the only one who hasn't changed is Doctor McKay, though he's extremely carefully about hanging around too long when Colonel Mayborn is on base."
"I think there is a territorial thing going on there." Aphrodite said.
Athena gave her head a shake "Colonel Mayborn gives me bad... vibes..." She explained, using Taryn's vocabulary to explain her feelings. "But she claims to love him and he does seem to make her happy..."
"So, what is your plans when you get out of here?" Aphrodite said.
"Our first order of business once we have clearance to leave the base is apparently to go shopping for clothing." Athena chuckled. "She is not fond of this idea."
"I mean when you get to go off world." Aphrodite said.
"I'm not sure." Athena shrugged "i figured i would just go where you do."
"I have an Ashrak after me." Aphrodite sighed. "I can't go anywhere."
"Right..." She winced. "Sorry... I forgot about that for a moment. I guess we'll simply go back on missions. She seems to enjoy that idea."
"You could go back to our people." Aphrodite said.
"I haven't been with the Tok'ra for...1000 years." She sighed at the mention of the amount of time it had been. "They hardly need me."
"What about finding a new host?" Aphrodite asked.
"You told me yourself they have no willing hosts." She said softly. "It seems as if me and Lt. O'Neill are going to be together a while longer."
"Is she alright with that?" Aphrodite asked. "You know our mother's teachings as well as I do."
"She's accepting of it." Athena shrugged. "She's a lot less adverse to it than she was when we first blended."
"That's surprising." Terri said as she took over her body and raised an eyebrow at her sister.
"You would say that." Taryn smiled, taking back control of her body. "But it took you some time to get used to it, didn't it?"
"Yeah it did but I was more open to it than you were." Terri said.
"I'm just saying... It's still weird but I'm... I'm getting used to it."
"It's kind of interesting... It's like finding the mother we never had." Terri said softly.
"I'll let you know if I agree with that if and when we actually meet our mother." Taryn smiled playfully.
Stepping out of the control room, Taryn closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she tried to calm her nerves. At least it hadn't been as bad as she had thought it would be.
"Hey you." Harry said as he pushed himself off the wall.
Opening her eyes, Taryn smiled fondly when she saw Harry walking over to her. "Hey." She said softly, watching as he stopped in front of her. "It was... Fun..."
"You didn't say anything did you?" Harry asked.
"I didn't say a word..." she whispered "I was just kind of this weird bystander listening to words coming out of my own mouth. That's still really freaky."
"Can you leave here yet?" Harry asked.
"I do have clearance to go off base now, yes." She smiled. "Though, I was thinking of stopping at the store and picking up some new clothes. I kind of lost the whole batch in the apartment... Explosion..."
"Let's not talk about that." Harry smiled.
"I like that plan." Taryn smiled softly "So, did you come here just to ask what my plans were?"
"Actually, I wanted to invite you to dinner, at my place." Harry said. "To celebrate."
"I think dinner at your place would be awesome." She smiled fondly, letting her hair fall in front of her face as she looked up at Harry. "But I would rather have dinner in Civilian clothing rather than my uniform."
"Let me guess, your sister is going with you." Harry smiled.
"I can meet you at your place." She smiled softly
"Say around Seven-ish?" Harry asked.
"Seven-ish sounds good to me." Taryn smiled "I'll be there."
"It's a date." Harry smiled.
"Sounds good to me." Taryn smiled up at him.
Putting yet another shirt in her basket, Taryn looked behind her and gave her head a shake when she saw Terri looking at dresses. "Need something to stun the guys in?" She asked playfully.
"Always looking for something to keep them attracted to me." Terri smiled. "What do you think?"
"I think you look good in anything you wear." She smiled. "They'll love it."
"Find anything interesting?" Terri asked.
Taryn shrugged her shoulders "I'm just kind of grabbing things that will fit. Nothing interests me here."
"What about over there?" Terri asked as she pointed towards the men's section.
Looking over at the guys section, Taryn winced. "I don't even know what size would fit me..." She whispered "Besides, Harry would probably hate it."
"You haven't told him, have you?" Terri sighed.
"I'm not telling him Terri." She sighed. "He's still getting used to the idea of me having a symbiont, though... He's being oddly supportive of that..."
"Come on..." Terri smiled.
Having her sister grab her arms, Taryn groaned as she was dragged into the men's section "You're not going to let me leave until I pick something, are you?"
"Nope, we'll stay here till closing if we have to." Terri smiled.
"Ok..." She sighed, looking around at the clothing and smiling when she saw a pair of ripped jeans, a graphic t-shirt, and a plaid over shirt on one of the mannequins. "That..." she whispered, pointing at the mannequin "I want that..."
"Your wish is my command, Sis." Terri smiled. "I'm great at judging sizes. Just ask Mike and John."
Seeing her sister jet off, Taryn chuckled fondly. Terri always managed to make Shopping a little more fun.
Knocking on Harry's front door, Taryn fixed her hair over her shoulder and looked down at the purple dress that Terri had convinced her to get along with her other clothes. It was pretty, but there was definitely a draft on her legs that was a little weird.
"Wow..." Harry whispered.
Looking up, Taryn smiled weakly when Harry stopped in his tracks. "Too much?" She asked weakly. "I... I can't change..."
"No... Don't... It's perfect." Harry smiled.
Taryn smiled weakly at the sound of that "I hope I'm not late." She said softly, letting Harry lead her into the house. "The line up to pay was endless."
"You're here now, that's what matters." Harry smiled.
Feeling Harry's lips on the side of her neck, Taryn chuckled "You're being cuddly." She smiled softly.
"I missed you." Harry smiled. "Do you not like it?"
"It's cute..." She smiled, laughing when he wrapped his arms around her waist "What's on the menu tonight?"
"I managed to get your favorite food out of your dad." Harry smiled.
Pressing her back against Harry's chest, Taryn chuckled. "You're ridiculous." She smiled, turning around in his arms and pressing their lips together in a hard kiss while she took hold of his hand and pulled him towards the bedroom.
Hearing the door bell ringing again, Taryn groaned as she pulled Harry's shirt on and made her way through the living room. "I'm coming." She grumbled, running her fingers through her hair and looking through the peep hole. "The hell..." She pulled the door open carefully and frowned. "Colonel, it's 2 in the morning..."
"I'm here to pick up something." Kennedy said.
"What are you talking about?" She frowned "There's nothing here for you."
"Oh but there is." Kennedy said.
"It's alright, Taryn." Harry said.
Turning around in her spot, Taryn grunted when Harry brought a hand up to her neck and pricked her with something on his ring. "Harry..." She whispered, slapping a hand over the affected area as her eyes started to get heavy.
"I'm sorry..." Harry whispered.
Looking up at Harry, Taryn watched as everything started to get blurry "What..." She whispered, groaning when she fell forward into Harry's arms.
"I did my part." Harry said.
"it would have been nice if she had been properly clothed." Doctor Withers frowned, walking up to the door as Harry picked Taryn up in her arms. "But I can't really complain."
"What now?" Harry asked.
"Get her in the back of the truck." He instructed calmly. "We'll take things from there."
"Sure..." Harry said.
"You did the right thing, Harry." Kennedy said.
"What about the other one?" Doctor Withers asked. "I thought you were working on getting hold of both of them?"
"The President is preparing the orders now." Kennedy said.
"Hmmm, it's always a longer wait when we have to involve the president." He frowned.
"She's sequestered in a high security military facility." Kennedy said. "The only way we can get to her is through the red tape."
"I'm just saying. I prefer the quick and easy extraction over the red tape" He said calmly.
Walking into the breifing room the next morning, Jack smiled fondly when he saw Terri sitting at the table with John and Mike beside her "any idea when your sister is planning on coming in?" He asked calmly "She promised Doctor McKay that they could work on some of his experiments together. he's getting ansey about that."
"I haven't heard from her since I dropped her off at Mayborn's last night." Terri said.
"Hmmmm." he frowned "it's not like her to be late."
"Maybe her boyfriend wore her out last night." John smiled, laughing when Jack picked up a pen from the table and tossed it at him
"Have you tried calling her?" Terri asked.
"I tried once but it went to voice mail." Jack sighed "She might have slept in."
"Heads up, People." Hammond said. "Colonel Kennedy is here to take the symbionts in Locker room J-19 and Lt. O'Neill into custody."
"Excuse me?" Jack demanded angrily
"On who's authority?" Terri demanded.
"On the President's." Hammond said. "I'm sorry, Lieutenant, my hands are tied."
"Like hell they are." Jack growled. "She's not going anywhere."
"Colonel, we have no choice." Hammond said.
"And what happened to basic human treatment?" He demanded. "Terri is still human."
"Jack, the orders come from the President of these United States." Hammond said. "I can't protect her the way I did Teal'c."
"General, I don't give a shit who gave those orders. I'm not letting that slimey creep near my daughter."
"The only way you can get these orders reversed is to go to Washington and talk to the President yourself." Hammond said.
"I'll be fine until you can convince the President to change his mind." Terri said.
"Terri..." Jack whispered, looking back at his daughter and wincing when she nodded her head. He hated having to do the diplomatic thing.
"Well, this is horse shit..." John whispered weakly.
"I guess we know where Taryn is." Mike sighed.
"What do you mean?" Jack frowned. "Why would you say that?"
"You really think they would go for one and not the other?" Mike asked.
"Terri said herself that she was with Mayborn last night." He frowned "Kennedy would have to pull a lot of strings to get her from one of his own people...unless..."
"Mayborn had to be in on it." Mike sighed.
"I'm going to kill him..." He said with a growl.
"Damn, I hate being right." Terri whispered.
"Being right?" Jack frowned
"I had one of my famous bad feelings when I dropped her off, but I ignored it." Terri whispered.
"Ok, from now on you always follow those feelings." Jack ordered. "I don't care if you have to drag her out kicking and screaming. You follow those feelings."
"Yes, sir." Terri smiled as she mock saluted her father.
"Are you ready to go, Lieutenant?" Kennedy said as he left the General's office.
Turning around, Jack growled angrily "They let you out of your cage again?"
"I wasn't addressing you, Colonel, I was addressing your daughter." Kennedy said.
"You can kiss my ass, Colonel, because I'd sooner resign." Terri said. "General Hammond, I request permission to go through the stargate to the Tokra."
"I like that plan." Jack agreed "I like that plan a lot. General, please let her go with that plan."
"I'm sorry, I can't allow that." Hammond said.
"General, you are really not helping here." Jack protested
"I'm sorry, Colonel, I can't help you." Hammond said.
"Let's go, Lieutenant." Kennedy said.
Clenching his jaw, Jack turned around in his spot and decked Kennedy in the face, sending the bastard flying onto his ass. "I will take 1000 court marshals for that, it felt good."
"Actually, he's your rank so you can do whatever the fuck you want to him." Terri smiled.
"I see you have your father's potty mouth." Kennedy said as he got back up.
"And Proud of it." Terri smirked.
Jack smiled at the sound of that. "One of them had to get the potty mouth."
"Time to go, Lieutenant." Kennedy said.
"You'll have to drag my ass kicking and screaming." Terri huffed as she folded her arms around her chest.
"I guess she's not going to make this easy for you." Jack smirked.
"That can be arranged." Kennedy said as two MP's walked into the room.
Looking at the MP's, Jack took a quick second to glance back at Terri before sighing. "Touch her and I break your wrists."
"You wouldn't." Kennedy said.
"Try me." He warned, stepping up into Kennedy's space again.
"You do that I will personally make sure your daughters never see the light of day again."
"I think that means go." John whispered, stepping up beside Terri and putting a hand on her shoulder.
"I can't do that again..." Terri whispered.
"Trust me on this one Kiddo." Jack said softly. "It's better that we don't involve the MP's. Then it becomes an even bigger process because you get a record."
"But Dad..." Terri whispered.
"I'll take care of it." He promised softly.
"Take care of Mike for me." Terri whispered as she took John's hand.
"Always." John smiled weakly, pulling Terri into his arms and kissing her forehead gently. "We'll get you back. I promise." He whispered in her and Taryn's language.
"I love you..." Terri whispered.
"i love you more." John smiled softly "we'll get you back. i promise."
"I'll hold you to that promise." Terri whispered before she walked over to Colonel Kennedy.
Kennedy made to put a hand on her shoulder so he could cuff her and her eyes glowed. "Touch my host and YOU will never see the light of day, Colonel." Aphrodite warned.
Opening her eyes slowly, Taryn hissed when she found herself faced with a blinding light. "Son off a..." She hissed under her breath, sitting up in her spot slowly and bringing a hand up to her forehead.
"Good morning." Kennedy said.
Looking up, Taryn clenched her jaw when she saw Colonel Kennedy walking into the room with Doctor Withers "Is this what you do now? Kidnap your own people?" She growled, moving to get off of the bed she was on, only to find her leg changed to it. "You fuck..."|
"We need to talk to your symbiont." Kennedy said.
"You know, surprisingly she would be more than willing to answer any questions you may have." Ahe growled "You actually did not need to kidnap me and chain me to a bed, creep."
"You haven't reported in in a week." Kennedy said.
Seeing Doctor Withers walk past her, Taryn turned around to watch what he was doing "Really?" She frowned when she saw his tools laid out on a table. "This is not happening..."
"I'm going to need you to calm down Lt." Withers instructed, picking up a scalpel off of the table. "I'm sure we'll be able to remove the gou'ld easily enough. That is of course, if it's truthful and does not want you injured."
"Oh go to hell." Taryn growled, glaring at the table and sending his equipment flying into the wall.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Kennedy said.
"And why the hell not?" Taryn growled angrily.
"Because I have a friend of yours in the other room." Kennedy said.
Looking over to the other man, Taryn clenched her jaw. "how exactly did you get hold of her?"
"How do you know who it is we are talking about?" Kennedy asked.
"Any idiot knows who you're talking about ass hole." She hissed, wincing when Colonel Kennedy walked over to her. "Athena's not talking to you."
"Let's just say I have friends in high places." Kennedy said. "Dr. Whither's has ways of making the thing inside of you, talk."
Looking back at the scalple in Doctor Withers hand, Taryn clenched her jaw. "Why exactly do you need both of us?" She growled "Isn't one good enough for you?"
"We have a Goul'd queen and her vat of symbionts." Kennedy said. "You really think we would pass that up?"
Stepping out of the rental car, Jack frowned as he tried to fix his tie. "Remind me again why exactly I'm dressing up for this ass hole."
"Because as big of a dick move as this is, he's still the president." Sam explained as she got out on the other side and fixed her skirt. "And you wouldn't be allowed anywhere near him in regular uniform."
"Good for his kingly ass." Jack huffed in annoyance.
"Just... Try and be civil, Sir." Sam sighed. "We might actually have a chance of getting this turned around if you don't try and murder him."
Stuffing his hands into his pockets, Jack huffed in annoyance. "Civil my ass..." He grumbled as he followed Samantha up the stairs.
Pulling on her leg, Taryn growled when the metal cuff cut deeper into her skin "Son of a slimey self-centered ass hole." She growled, reaching down to try and undo the chain for the hundredth time.
"Hey..." Harry said as he came in.
Looking up from her spot, Taryn winced when she saw Harry standing at the door. "Go away..." She whispered, turning her attention back to the chain and trying to dig her nails under it.
"Taryn, please." Harry said.
"Go away!" She screamed, causing everything in the room to go flying against the walls while Harry ducked behind the door.
"Please let me explain." Harry said.
"Oh go to hell, Colone!" She growled. "This was what you wanted all along. This is why you met me. Don't act like you give a shit about me now."
"Taryn, I care about you." Harry said.
"My sister is in the other room!" She screamed angrily. "Do you care about her? Or is it just because I was willing to let you fuck me?"
"I'm not like that..." Harry whispered.
Seeing Harry walking towards her, Taryn moved back towards the edge of the bed. "Stay away from me." She growled at him. "Stay the hell away from me."
Harry sighed before he put a ring box on the bed. "Happy Anniversary." He said before walking towards the door.
Looking down at the ring box in front of her, Taryn ground her teeth together angrily "You don't... You don't get to do that!" She screamed, grabbing the ring box and tossing it at Harry's back.
Harry just stood there as he looked down at the diamond ring on the ground.
"You don't get to act like you care!" She said angrily, letting tears fall down her face. "You don't get to invite me over to dinner, screw me, hand me over to my own boss for fuck knows what, and then act like you care!" She said angrily. "You don't get to make me fall in love and then... You don't get that."
"I'm sorry..." Harry whispered.
Moving her hands away from Harry, Taryn moved back quickly and grunted when she fell off of the edge of the bed and pulled on her leg painfully. "Fuck..." She growled, attempting to get back onto the bed so the chain would stop pulling on her leg.
"Let me help you." Harry whispered.
Feeling Harry's hands on her wrist, Taryn attempted to pull away from him again "Let me go..." She demanded angrily.
"I'm trying to help you..." Harry said.
Feeling Harry's hand under her shirt, Taryn ducked her head down when he pulled it back to see blood. "They don't like it when you don't comply to what they want." She huffed, grabbing hold of the pole that her leg was chained to and breaking it off of the bed.
"I'm sorry." Harry said again.
"Don't touch me..." She growled, moving back against the wall and shoving Harry away when he got too close. "Just... Leave me alone..."
"Fine..." Harry sighed as he walked over to the door as it opened.
"Stand your ground, Colonel." Kennedy ordered.
Looking over at the door, Taryn moved even further back when she saw two soldiers with kennedy. "What, don't like it when your test subjects have freedom?" She huffed.
"Get her back under control." Kennedy ordered.
Seeing them walking towards her, Taryn growled angrily and took a swing at the nearest one, grunting when he grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back.
"Fun fact, Lt. Women aren't as naturally strong as men." The Captain smirked, holding her down while Harry walked towards the door.
"Fun fact, ass hole, I can still kick your ass." Taryn growled, closing her eyes and letting Athena take over so she could toss the guy over the bed and into the wall before turning on the other guy and catching his fist on its way to her fast.
"What the hell?" Kennedy demanded.
"What is going on here?" Doctor Withers demanded, stepping into the room and feeling his eyes going wide when he saw what was inside. "Colonel Kennedy...is there a triplet I was unaware of?"
"Mayborn, did you know about this?" Kennedy asked.
"Absolutely not..." Harry whispered.
Taryn frowned at the sound of that. "What the hell are you..." He stopped talking when he heard his voice. "Athena, not cute..."
"Sir, permission to leave." Harry said weakly.
"Granted." Kennedy said.
Watching Harry head out of the room, Taryn lowered his eyes to the ground as Doctor Withers stepped past Colonel Kennedy.
"This is fascinating." Withers whispered, his eyes examining every inch of Taryn's body carefully. "Though it's kind of weird. I feel like I'm simply looking at a young version of Colonel O'Neill."
"Intriguing." Kennedy said.
Keeping his eyes down, Taryn brought a hand up to his arm and winced when Doctor Withers stepped up into his face. "I swear to god if you try and check if everything is there, I will break your neck." He warned.
"Not the first time someone has had the idea I'm guessing." Withers smirked, stepping back to examine Taryn once more. "I've been impressed by both of their powers so far, but this one is just odd."
"Odd? How?" Kennedy asked.
"It serves no real purpose." He shrugged "Though I guess it could be useful for certain situations."
"Undercover situations." Kennedy said.
Glancing down at the diamond ring on the ground, Taryn winced as he thought about Harry's reaction. At least he was right when he thought Harry wouldn't take well to this certain power.
Storming out of the President's office, Jack rubbed a hand over his face while Captain Carter followed him. "Who voted for him? They're all idiots." He huffed in annoyance.
"That's at least half the population of America, sir." Sam pointed out, smiling weakly when he glared back at her. "We'll figure this out. General Hammond is on his way from his meeting. Maybe he'll have better luck."
"Right, because I'm terrible at talking people into seeing things my way." Jack sighed.
"Not terrible, just... Aggressive." Sam smiled weakly.
Standing with his back against the wall, Taryn watched the door carefully as he waited for someone to come back. anyone to open the door so that he could try and make a break for it.
"Bastards..." he grumbled under his breath, kicking at the ground beneath him as he tried to think of what to do.
"Help me..." Terri cried out in her mind. "Someone please help..."
Hearing a familiar voice in the back of his head, Taryn frowned. "Terri?" He asked calmly, looking around the room as if he expected his sister to be there. "Terri, where are you?"
"I don't know..." Terri cried. "Help..."
Hearing his sisters scream, Taryn ducked his head down. "Terri..." He whispered weakly, feeling his sisters pain surging through him.
"Please..." Terri begged.
"God damn it..." He growled, storming over to the door and pounding on the metal "Kennedy stop it!" He screamed angrily. "Leave her alone!"
"Taryn..." Terri cried out.
"Stay ok." He said sternly "Keep fighting them Terri. Dad's going to get us out of here soon, I know it."
"I don't know how much longer I can last." Terri cried.
slamming his fist against the door, Taryn growled when he felt his bones crack under the pressure. "Son of a bitch..." He growled, taking a step back and cradling his hand as he tried to focus on Terri. "Stay with me sis... just... just stay with me"
"I can't..." Terri cried.
"Do not give them what they want." He said softly. "Don't give them Aphrodite, don't give them your powers. Don't give them anything. We've been through this before. we know we can make it."
"Do you remember what I did to those bullies that attacked Mike in high school?" Terri asked.
"You whooped their asses." Taryn agreed. "They were too afraid of you to go near him ever again."
"This is going to be much worse." Terri whispered.
"Oh, dear god..." Taryn whispered weakly. "Terri don't... You know what they'll want to do with that."
"You would do it." Terri said.
"Don't be me." He laughed weakly. "Don't ever be me."
"I have to fight back... Like Dad taught us to." Terri whispered.
"I know that..." Taryn whispered. "I know you do. But don't do anything that could hurt you."
"I doubt I have the energy to make them tickle let alone writhe in agony, anyways." Terri whispered.
"Terri..." Taryn whispered, looking up at the door weakly.
"Aphrodite is repairing most of the damage but they won't let me sleep." Terri whispered.
"Of course, they're not..." Taryn sighed. "We'll figure this out. We'll get out of here."
"How do you know that?" Terri whispered.
"You try and save your energy till you can destroy them." He said softly "Hopefully dads working on a way to get us out."
"He wouldn't leave us in here." Terri whispered.
"Exactly." Taryn said softly. "He'll find a way in. He'll find us."
Terri nodded as she tried to block out the pain.
"Just... Keep fighting." He said softly. "I'm here... I'm not leaving"
"Why is it working again?" Terri asked.
"Why is what working?" Taryn asked softly.
"The connection." Terri whispered.
"You know, I'm not exactly sure." He whispered. "I just kind of... Felt it come back..."
"I'm glad it did." Terri whispered.
"So am I." Taryn smiled weakly.