Stargate the O'Neill Factor

by MagicalZanDuun

The untold story of Jack O'Neill's twin daughters and their pivotal Role in the SGC.

19. Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen

Pulling John's uniform Jacket on, Taryn looked down at her body and sighed, closing her eyes for a moment and relaxing when she felt the clothing starting to fit him better as he took his male form.

"Hey you." Mike said softly. "Haven't seen you like this in a while."

"It's weird for everyone." He whispered, shutting the door to his locker and switching out John's nametag for his own. "Even Terri think's it's weird sometimes."

"I don't." Mike said.

"She's resting I'm guessing." He whispered. "She took a hell of a lot more than me."

"Yeah... Doctor Fraser is keeping a close eye on her." Mike said.

"I'm guessing Harry convinced the ass hole to leave me alone for the most part." He whispered. "Probably some twisted idea in his head that that would make me less pissed at him."

"You shouldn't be so hard on him." Mike said softly.

"He tried to hand me an engagement ring after he helped them kidnap me Mike." He huffed in annoyance. "Who does that? And then he had the gull to be freaked when I changed to... This." He waved down at his body. "Although to be fair, Athena did the change for me."

"Taryn..." Mike whispered.

Giving his head a shake, Taryn looked over at Mike weakly. "I can't do this anymore." He whispered. "Every time I think someone actually might give a damn about me I'm proven wrong. With John it was fine. At least he had his eyes set on someone better than me, but this..." He shook his head. "I thought..."

"Don't say it."

"I thought maybe someone actually wanted me for once..." He whispered weakly

"People want you, your family wants you, I want you." Mike said.

"not what i meant, Mike." Taryn whispered weakly

"It should still count for something." Mike said softly.

Giving his head a shake, Taryn took a deep breath and stepped away from the locker. "I'll get over it." He whispered softly. "I just..."

"Just what?" Mike asked.

"Maybe it's better if I stay like this..." He whispered. "People seem to like this form more..."

"I don't mind either way." Mike smiled. "But it is kind of nice having a guy best friend."

"Of course, you do." Taryn chuckled.

Sitting down beside Terri, Jack smiled softly as he took hold of her hand. "You're going to need to rest for a while according to Janet." He explained softly. "But you're going to be fine."

"I don't feel like I am going to be fine." Terri said in ancient.

Hearing her speaking to him in her made-up language, Jack shook his head. "I really wish you had taught me that when you two were growing up." He sighed, reaching out to put a hand on her forehead and pushing her hair back gently. "I'm sorry I didn't get to you sooner, kiddo. It shouldn't have taken that long."

"It's better if only a few people can understand me right now." Terri whispered. "How's Taryn?"

"If you're wondering about your twin, I'm pretty sure he has gone to beat up a punching bag right now." He said softly "You took a lot more damage, but I'm sure you'll be up and with your little... weird symbionts soon."

"They aren't weird." Terri whispered in ancient.

"Yhey are weird." Jack smiled, hoping he had gotten what she said. "But that's ok. We're all a little weird."

"Love you too, Dad." Terri smiled weakly.

"Rest." He smiled softly. "Me or John will be here when you wake up, I promise."

'Thanks, Dad." Terri smiled weakly as she settled down in the bed.

Sitting beside Terri's tub of symbiont's, Taryn watched as one of them swam around his fingers playfully while the Jaffa stood guard. "She'll be back soon." He promised, smiling when the symbiont poked its head out at him. "Ya, I know. You miss her."

"You can not pass." Prina said sternly.

Looking behind him, Taryn rolled his eyes when he saw Prina blocking Harry from entering the room. "Relax." He whispered, pushing himself to his feet and heading for the door, grabbing Harry's arm on the way. "Come on."

"Are you going to talk to me?" Harry asked.

Pulling Harry out of the room, Taryn watched as Prina closed the door behind them before he let go. "The hell are you doing?"

"Trying to talk things out with you, leave us on peaceful terms." Harry said.

"Talk things out?" Taryn asked, not sure how exactly to take what Harry had just said. "How exactly do you talk that out Harry?"

"I don't know but I want to try." Harry said.

"Do not..." He whispered, closing his eyes. "I do not ...want to hear it. I don't need to hear how weird I am or how you can't do this... There is a very good reason I never told you Harry."

"You could have told me, maybe I would have been open to it." Harry said.

Lowering his eyes, Taryn kept his mouth shut as Harry stepped into his space "There is no leaving us on peaceful terms..." He whispered weakly. "As creepy as I am to you. As much as you hate me and as much as I am upset with you... I love you. I never lied about that and I..." He shook his head weakly. "I can't do this..." He whispered, stepping past Harry and heading down the hallway without another word.

Seeing Terri moving beside him, John smiled softly. "Your dad went to get you some breakfast." He said softly.

"The symbionts." Terri whispered.

"Prina and the others are watching the symbionts." He said softly "Taryn went to visit them for a bit, so they're not alone. Apparently they're waiting for your return patiently."

"Good..." Terri whispered. "How is Taryn?"

"He uh... He went out." He whispered. "Took those clothes he had left in the back of your car and changed, then said he needed to get out for a bit."

"Is he alright?" Terri asked.

"He needs a breather." He smiled softly. "He did kind of just have to face one hell of a break up."

"You didn't let him go alone did you?" Terri asked.

"Don't worry." John smiled softly. "Mike went with him. You need to rest."

"Your ancient is getting better." Terri smiled.

"Mike's been working on my made-up language with me." He smiled playfully.

"I'm not so sure it is made up." Terri whispered.

"what do you mean?" John asked softly

"In there... they showed me writings from a planet your team went to called Heliopolis." Terri whispered. "It matched our language."

"That's...odd..." He frowned "How would you and Taryn know a language that already exists but... Isn't from earth?"

"Think about that for a moment." Terri whispered.

"They're trying to say you're aliens?" He frowned. "Does that make Colonel O'Neill an Alien? Because I don't think he'd take too kindly to that."

"Well, he didn't exactly see us be born, remember?" Terri asked.

"I know that..." John whispered. "But I mean... He is your dad."

"They said that the aliens stole Dad's DNA to make us but most of our cells are alien." Terri whispered.

"That doesn't make sense..." He whispered. "How would they know that?"

"They took enough blood from me, they could have easily tested it." Terri whispered.

"It just doesn't make sense..." He whispered softly.

"It doesn't?" Terri raised an eyebrow.

"I just mean... If that is how it happened why would these aliens choice your dad? They have a whole world of people. Why would they choice someone who would be gone over seas a lot instead of someone who would be with you constantly?"

"Because even thought he was gone all the time, when he was there he was a kick ass dad." Terri said.

"I just think their hypothesis is...simplistic." He whispered "I think if there is something up that it might be more than what they think. I mean, they have your blood but not your dads, and did they check Taryn's?"

"I don't know..." Terri whispered as she hid her face in her pillow.

"Hey..." John reached out to put a hand on Terri's shoulder. "We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

"Like what?" Terri asked.

"We can talk about anything else." He smiled. "I mean, if you still want we do have a wedding we actually need to plan one of these days."

"I didn't think you guys want to anymore." Terri whispered.

"Why wouldn't we want to get married?" John asked softly.

"You haven't mentioned it since I came back." Terri whispered.

"That's not it at all." He smiled softly. "We've all just been really busy."

"Right..." Terri whispered.

"We still want to get married." He smiled softly, reaching out to take Terri's hand. "I promise"

"I'm so scared, John." Terri whispered.

"I know." John said softly. "But I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

Terri nodded as she leaned into him.

"We'll get through this." He smiled softly. "I promise."

Terri nodded as she wrapped her arms around him and started to cry.

"It's ok." John whispered softly. "I'm here. I've got you."

Getting out of Mike's car the next morning, Taryn leaned against the hood and watched as Mike crawled out of the driver's seat. "You know I don't actually have to be at work today." He pointed out calmly.

"I think you should be here today." Mike smiled.

"What could be here that I need to be present for?" He groaned. "I should be apartment hunting."

"You can apartment hunt later." Mike smiled.

Giving his head a shake, Taryn pushed himself away from the car and followed Mike towards the entrance. "I should really get a second one of these..." He sighed, flashing his ID card to the security guard and waiting for them to call in to General Hammond.

"Dr. McKay!" Mike called.

"Dr. Jackson, a pleasure to see you again." Rodney smiled.

Turning around in his spot, Taryn winced when he saw Rodney walked over to them. "I hate you..." He grumbled over at Mike.

"You love me and you know it." Mike smiled.

"Who's your friend?" Rodney asked.

Taryn drew in a deep breath and sighed. "You kind of... already know me..." He whispered weakly, holding out his ID card for Rodney to see.

"Ok wow..." Rodney smiled. "That is actually very cool."

Frowning, Taryn looked over at Rodney and raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry, cool?"

"Not expecting that response?" Rodney raised an eyebrow.

"Not usually a response I expect, no..." He said calmly. "Something along the lines of 'freak' and 'creepy' tends to be more appropriate I find."

"I'd never apply those words to you." Rodney smiled.

Opening his mouth to respond, Taryn frowned when he found himself without anything to say.

"Are you guys coming in?" The Lt at the door asked calmly. "It's getting kind of crowded here."

"Hmmm?" Looking back at him, Taryn winced. "Tight, sorry." He whispered, stepping inside with Mike and waiting for Rodney to get cleared through

"So, is this one of your special powers?" Rodney asked.

"Kind of, ya..." Taryn whispered. "Wh.. What are you doing here anyways?"

"Oh, I am taking a look at Dr. Jackson's meaning of life stuff with Mike." Rodney said.

"Meaning of life stuff?" Taryn asked with a raised eyebrow, looking over at Mike

"Universal Language thing Daniel found on one of his early missions." Mike shrugged. "I figured a scientist's eye wouldn't hurt and since Terri is kind of out of commission..."

"You are so weird..." He sighed softly.

"Yet, you still hang out with me." Mike smirked.

"So... Does everything..." Rodney asked.

"Why does everyone ask that..." He sighed, rubbing a hand over his eyes. "Y.. Yes. Everything functions and I have everything the standard male has."

"How do you know? Have you tested it?" Rodney asked.

"I think I would know it functions." He grumbled "Though, if you would like for back up on my claim, I'm sure John would be more than willing to provide the details."

"I thought we weren't EVER going to talk about that." Mike complained.

"You started it." he smirked

"How did I start it? I just asked for help on a problem." Mike protested.

Rodney chuckled as his phone vibed in his pocket.

"Getting messages?" Taryn asked playfully.

"One last text from Carson before I go into cell phone hell." Rodney smiled.

"Always a good thing to get one last 'I love you' before a day without cell reception." He smiled

"Yeah." Rodney smiled.

"Did you do that with Mayborn?" Mike asked.

Feeling his smile disappear, Taryn huffed in annoyance."Now there is a topic we don't talk about." He said calmly. "He no longer exists as far as I'm concerned."

"What are you going to do when he comes on base?" Mike asked.

"I'll ignore him. I'm good at that." He said calmly. "Now let's get downstairs. I can at least get coffee since you dragged me in."

"Coffee sounds good." Mike smiled.

"It does but I kind of want to get to work." Rodney said.

"Fine... I'll get you two coffee too..." He sighed.

"We'd appreciate it." Mike smiled.

"Of course, you would." Taryn smirked. "Just like John appreciated blow jobs."

"Lalalalala..." Mike said as he put his fingers in his ears.

"You are the worst." Taryn laughed.

"I think that award goes to you, today." Mike huffed.

"You love me and you know it." Taryn smirked.

Sitting beside Terri's bed, Taryn smiled softly when he saw his sister starting to wake up. "And here I thought you were going to sleep in all day like a lazy cat."

"Is John's shift over?" Terri whispered.

"John went to get some coffee for himself." He smiled. "And I think Mike wanted a chance to screw him because I bugged him and mentioned that one time we had sex."

"You know Mike hates that story." Terri sighed.

"He made me face Rodney in this form." He protested. "I thought it was fair."

"So how is everything going?" Terri asked weakly.

Smiling, Taryn put the book he was reading down and sat up in his spot. "Dad contacted the Tok'ra to let them know what happened. They're sending one of them over to check up on you."

"Sel'Mac?" Terri asked eagerly.

"Athena asked about Sel'mac, but they said she was in no condition to go anywhere." She whispered. "Athena can only assume her host is old."

"She'll need a new host soon or else she'll die." Terri whispered.

"I'm guessing so." Taryn agreed. "We'll have to hope they can find one."

"How's Sam?" Terri asked.

"What do you mean?" Taryn frowned

"She seemed upset when her and Dad got back from Washington earlier." Terri whispered.

"How exactly do you know she was upset?" he asked softly.

"Empathy." Terri reminded her sister as she tapped her head.

"Right...the empathy thing." He sighed. "I'm not really sure. I haven't seen her much since we got back."

"Where has she been?" Terri asked.

"Honestly, I think she has been hanging around dad." He shrugged. "If she's down about something he's most likely the best to ask. Unless of course you get the chance to ask her."

"Right." Terri whispered as she pulled her pillow close.

"What's wrong?" Taryn asked softly.

"I just don't feel like talking to anyone." Terri whispered.

"So I've noticed with the whole 'no English' thing." He smiled softly. "It's ok. I'm sure it can wait till you are ready to talk, or Sam will tell you when she's ready."

"Why would she tell me?" Terri asked.

"You two were getting pretty close before the Abydos mission" He pointed out.

"She's still my superior officer." Terri said.

"So?" Taryn asked softly. "She talks to dad about shit and he's her superior officer."

"Why though?" Terri asked.

"Sometimes when you see someone a lot, you become friends." He smiled softly. "It's this weird thing that happens to people."

"I'm a stranger to everyone here." Terri whispered.

"No you're not." Taryn said softly. "You just need time."

"Right..." Terri whispered.

"It's not the first time you closed up into yourself." He smiled weakly. "You'll get through it. We did last time"

"Mike is still avoiding me." Terri whispered.

"And he will get over it as well." Taryn said. "If he doesn't I'll kick his ass."

Terri smiled weakly at that.

"I'll let you get some rest." Taryn said. "John will be back soon."

Terri nodded as she pulled her pillow close and closed her eyes.

Walking into the gate room, Sam smiled weakly when she saw the Tok'ra delegate coming through the stargate. "Come on Sir, it's not that bad." She smiled, nudging Jack in the shoulder when she saw the frown on his face.

"They act all worried... like they actually care about Terri..." Jack grumbled under his breath.

"Greetings, People of the Tau'ri. I am Martouf of the Tok'Ra."

"Captain Carter." Sam smiled, holding out a hand to shake Martouf's "The grumpy one is Colonel O'Neill. Terri's father."

"It is an honor to meet you, Sir." Martouf said. "Your daughter is a brilliant young woman."

Jack narrowed his eyes at the other man "I've noticed." He said calmly.

"How is she?" Martouf asked.

"She's resting." He said calmly. "And she really doesn't need you to check up on her."

"I thought it would be appropriate for us to check up on our queen." Martouf said. "We put great trust in the Tau'ri in letting Aphrodite hide here from the Ashrak."

"Sorry." Sam smiled weakly. "He's not... Very trusting."

"Seems to be common among your people if this happened." Martouf said. "Where is she?"

"Terri is in the infirmary resting." She said softly "She's not talking a lot, but I'm sure she'd be open to seeing you."

"I would like to see her." Martouf said.

Seeing Martouf getting chummy with Sam, Jack clenched his jaw and drew in a deep breath as he tried to refrain from punching the man. "I'm sure Daniel can show you to the infirmary." He said calmly, looking over at the Archaeologist.

"Uh... Yeah, sure." Daniel said.

"Actually, I would prefer it if Captain Carter showed me the way." Martouf said.

"I think I can handle that." Sam smiled softly, holding out an arm towards the exit. "Right this way."

Watching the two of them walk away, Jack clenched his jaw in annoyance. "I hate him..."

"Jack you just met him." Daniel said.

"I don't care that I just met him. I hate him." He said confidently.

"Jack, you are letting your feelings for Sam cloud your judgment." Daniel said.

"I agree with Daniel Jackson." Teal'c said.

"Traitor..." Jack grumbled under his breath as he glared over at Teal'c.

Standing beside his sisters bed, Taryn watched as he flipped through the pages of his book absent mindedly, only looking up when the doors to the infirmary opened.

"Looks like we have a guest." John said in a board tone, sitting up in his seat.

"Martouf it is an honor to see you again." Terri said in Gould as she bowed her head.

"The honor is mine, my lady." Martouf responded.

"Wonderful, something I don't speak." John sighed.

"They're saying hello." Taryn supplied with a roll of his eyes.

"Can I speak with Aphrodite?" Martouf asked.

Terri shook her head. "She is very weak. Keeping me alive during the... torture... took a lot out of her."

"Let's not talk about that." Taryn said softly

"And you are?" Martouf asked.

"Taryn." He said calmly. "Terri's twin."

"You're blended." Martouf observed.

Raising an eyebrow, Taryn watched as Martouf turned towards Terri. Closing his eyes for a second, He let Athena take over before looking at Martouf. "You really must relax Martouf. Aphrodite is fine."

"And you are?" Martouf asked again.

"This is Athena, Taryn found her trapped in a canopic jar." Terri explained.

"You really must work on your approach to others, Martouf." Athena said calmly "You're more likely to upset others with that attitude."

"I already seemed to upset Colonel O'Neill." Martouf said.

"Ignore Colonel O'Neill for now." She sighed. "He is overly protective of his children, especially after what just happened."

"It should not have happened." Martouf said.

"It's not the SGC's fault." Terri whispered. "It's our fucked-up governments."

"Very fucked up." Athena agreed calmly. "It's over however and it will not happen again."

"How can you assure that?" Martouf asked

"We'll be better prepared if anyone tries again." She said calmly.

"We were supposed to be better prepared this time." Terri whispered.

"You were ten." She said softly. "And if you are like your sibling, you repressed much of that incident."

"I wish I could repress this time." Terri whispered.

"Maybe what you need is a vacation." Martouf said.

"We don't really do vacations." Taryn said calmly, taking control of his body back "Especially off work wherever the Tok'ra are hiding."

"She needs to be protected." Martouf said.

"And we have a family here." he said calmly

"Excuse me for being blunt but your family didn't do a good job at protecting her." Martouf said.

"That's enough, Martouf." Terri whispered.

"But the Tok'ra did so well at their job, didn't they?" Taryn asked with a raised eyebrow. "After all, isn't that why they sent you here as soon as there was danger? They're so capable of providing protection."

"I do not appreciate your tone." Martouf said.

"Just pointing out the facts." He said calmly

"In any case it is not up to us to decide." Martouf said. "It is up to Aphrodite and her host."

Terri remained silent at that as she looked down at her hands curled up in the bed sheets.

"A choice she won't be making for a while." Taryn said simply "She needs rest now and that's what she's going to get."

"Then I will remain until she gets better." Martouf said.

"And the point of that is..." Taryn asked calmly

"It is my job to make sure the symbiont within recovers." Martouf said. "She is the only queen we have left."

"Right... I'm sure you're...capable." He huffed in amusement.

"Does existing count?" Taryn huffed. "If not we could go with 'over protective' and 'asshole-ish.'"

"It seems rudeness runs in the males of your family." Martouf huffed

"Whatever" He waved his hand dismissively and headed towards the door. "Have fun with the loser, Sis."

"Bye..." Terri whispered as she pulled her pillow close.

"i'll bring you dinner before i head out." Taryn promised softly before leaving the room.

Seeing SG-4 bring an orb shaped item through the stargate, Jack shook his head. "This one should be fun for the scientists." He said softly.

"Shouldn't you go see Terri?" Daniel asked.

"I'm avoiding the infirmary right now." He whispered.

"Because of the Tokra man?" Daniel asked.

"It would be better if he didn't... fawn over Captain Carter." He grumbled under his breath. "He's like a love sick puppy."

"Jack..." Daniel said.

"It's gross." he protested

"You're the same way." Daniel said.

Rolling his eyes, Jack crossed his arms over his chest and watched as the orb was taken out of the room. "I'm going to go find something fun to do." He said calmly "Because contrary to popular belief, hearing what I should do with my love life is not fun."

"What are you going to do?" Daniel asked.

"Maybe I'll let Teal'c beat me up in boxing again." He shrugged.

"Maybe you should try to go talk to the one person who hasn't gone to see her?" Daniel asked.

"Isn't that your department?" Jack groaned

"He won't talk to me." Daniel said. "I guess I suck as big brother in the talk department."

"Daniel, I have some bad news for you." Jack said, turning around to face his friend. "You were never good in that department."

"What do you mean?" Daniel asked.

"There's a reason I saw a lot of him when they were younger." He pointed out "Bis brother was too busy working to pay him any attention and talk to him."

"Jack, this isn't about my inadequacies at being a single parent of my younger brother." Daniel huffed.

"Ya Ya" he waved his hand dismissively "I'll talk to him."

"Thank you." Daniel said.

Stepping into Mike's office, Jack raised an eyebrow when he saw the young archaeologist hunched over his desk and Doctor McKay standing in front of a white board.

"Sir, do you need something?" Mike asked

"Can we talk?" He asked calmly, looking directly at Mike.

"Sure, Rodney, why don't you get some lunch?" Mike said.

"Alone?" Rodney asked.

"I'm sure you could drag Taryn out of the infirmary." Jack suggested calmly, watching as Rodney made his way past him carefully.

"I'll see you later." Rodney said.

"See ya." Mike said.

"It's always nice to scare boys who like my kids." Jack smirked playfully, glancing back over at Mike and walking over to the desk. "What are you working on?"

"You wouldn't understand sir." Mike said.

"I may not understand what you're talking about, but it does make you happy to talk about it." He shrugged. "So go ahead."

"It's the meaning of life stuff Daniel found on Earnest's planet." Mike said as he started to explain.

Smiling, Jack listened to what Mike was saying carefully and watched as he flopped his hands through the air for emphasis. "Sounds fun." He said softly.

"I know you didn't come to talk about my research." Mike said. "What's up?"

"I think you need a break." He corrected. "Maybe a visit to one very special fiancée who just went through hell?"

"Uhhh... no..." Mike whispered.

"You can't keep avoiding her Mike." He said softly.

"I can as long as she has that thing in her." Mike huffed.

"Mike, it's her choice to have Aphrodite in her." Jack reminded him

"It's because she has that thing that she wound up in that shit hole." Mike huffed. "Her and her creepy snake babies."

"I'd have to point out that it's actually the NID's fault." Jack explained. "I mean, it was them who decided that shit was alright."

"But Aphrodite being in her body and giving birth to those creepy ass babies gave them a way in." Mike said.

"Do you blame Athena for Taryn being there?" He asked calmly. "Because last I checked, you had no problem being around him in the last few days."

"Taryn let herself into that situation by being a part of the NID." Mike said. "Terri was forced into it."

"I really don't think Taryn chose that situation. She went to dinner with her boyfriend." Jack corrected "She was forced to be in that situation as well. Agreeing to a job does not mean agreeing to torture."

"It doesn't matter." Mike huffed.

"Just..." Jack rubbed a hand over his eyes and sighed. "Mike, please talk to her." He whispered. "She could really use your help to get through this"

"I can't." Mike whispered.

"You're being ridiculous." Jack said sternly. "Why the hell can't you go see her?"

"I can't face her." Mike whispered.

"Aphrodite isn't even surfacing right now." Jack protested "Why would you not be able to talk to your own fiancée?"

"Because of my own doubts." Mike said.

"Your own doubts?" He frowned. "What the hell does that mean?"

"I'm having doubts about this whole marriage thing." Mike whispered.

Giving his head a shake, Jack sighed. "Never mind." He whispered, heading towards the door without another word.

"You're the one who wanted to talk." Mike huffed.

"I'm not going to have this conversation Mike." He said simply "Terri deserves better than whatever this bullshit is."

"I'm sorry you think my feelings are bullshit." Mike huffed. "You're just as bad as Daniel."

"Excuse me?" Jack demanded, turning to face Mike. "You damn well know I will stand beside you for anything you need. I have proven that countless times when Daniel couldn't get his brain out of the books for 2 seconds to focus on you."

"All you seem to care about anymore is Terri." Mike huffed.

"She is my daughter!" He said sternly. "And your doubts, as important as they are, are NOTHING compared to what she just went through. What she is currently going through. I'm sorry if you think it's out of line for me to ask someone she loves, married or not, to push his doubts aside for five god damn seconds to help her. To support her through something terrible that just happened."

"Well, I'm going through some shit right now too and no one seems to give a shit about me." Mike growled.

"You don't get to ask me to choice between you and my kids." He said sternly. "I will always choose those girls. Always. They have no one else to choose them."

"Neither do I." Mike huffed as her searched his desk.

"My glasses." Mike said, trying to keep his composure.

Jack raised an eyebrow at the sound of that. "Why don't you look?"

Feeling in front of him Mike went over them twice before grabbing them in his hands.

Seeing Mike putting his glasses on, Jack frowned "What was that?"

"It's nothing." Mike huffed.

"That was not nothing." Jack said sternly. "What the hell was that Mike?"

"Why do you care?" Mike huffed as he tried to organize his files.

"Caring doesn't always come with sweet words and promises." He said sternly. "That wouldn't get you to tell me why the hell you had so much trouble finding your glasses just now."

"I'm fine." Mike huffed.

"What...is going...on?" Jack asked sternly

Mike heaved a heavy sigh. "Don't tell anyone."

Jack rolled his eyes at the sound of that "Fine, I won't tell anyone." He promised "Now tell me what's going on."

"I have degenerative eyesight disease." Mike said.

"So?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. "What does that mean exactly?"

"It means I am slowly going blind." Mike whispered.

"and... That's a huge problem for going to see Terri?" He frowned.

"I can't see her like that." Mike whispered. "I can't have my last vision of her be of when she is frail and weak."

Jack shook his head. "You're ridiculous Mike." He sighed. "But Fine. Give me your car keys."

"Sir?" Mike asked.

"You're not driving anywhere." He said calmly. "Now give me your car keys or I will tell John and let him decided for you what you'll do about getting home."

"Fine..." Mike sighed and he uncoupled his keys from his belt loop and handed them to Jack.

Taking the car keys, Jack pocketed them in his jacket and sighed. "Think about seeing her Mike." He said softly. "This... It's not worth throwing away what you all have."

"She's so weak... I can't let my last sight of her be that." Mike whispered.

"Even scared and battered, Terri is strong." He said calmly.

"Because she's an O'Neill right..." Mike huffed.

"Not because she's an O'Neill, though that does help." He smiled softly. "Because she's Terri."

"I'll think about it." Mike whispered.

"Thank you." Jack said softly. "I'll tell John he's driving you home. I'll make up an excuse."

"Thank you, sir." Mike said.

"Anytime." Jack said softly. "And, you do know I have a name right? You're allowed to use that instead of Sir."

"You've been scaring me as Colonel O'Neill since I was 5, sir, I'm not going to start calling you Jack because I am marrying your daughter."

Giving his head a shake, Jack chuckled fondly. "Whatever you say." He smiled as he left the room.

Letting Rodney drag him into the mess hall, Taryn ran his fingers through his hair and looked around the room cautiously. "I still don't get why you wanted my company..." He admitted weakly

"Because you are my friend, no matter what gender you are." Rodney said.

"Too be fair, the last time I saw you, you were being pretty cold..." he whispered

"I had to be." Rodney whispered.

Taryn raised an eyebrow at the sound of that. "I really don't understand how you had to be." He whispered softly.

"Your colonel friend threatened me." Rodney said.

Looking down at the ground, Taryn sighed "Ya...sorry about him." He whispered softly.

"He was kind of scary." Rodney said.

"He won't be threatening you anymore." He promised. "He kind of dumped me over the whole gender thing. Not that the 'aidding in kiddnapping' didn't seal the end of our relationship already."

"I'm sorry." Rodney said.

"It's ok." He shrugged. "I've gotten used to the idea of being alone. I'll just get used to it again."

"You won't be alone forever." Rodney said.

"Don't..." He laughed weakly, walking past Rodney and heading towards the lineup for food.

"Taryn..."

"It's pretty clear I don't sit well with anyone." He shrugged. "I mean, one boyfriend left me for my sister. That was alright. Another left me because I accidently healed a wound on his hand. Harry was just kind of another one that wasn't going to work out."

"That's not true." Rodney said. "There's someone out there for you."

"i'm really doubtful of that.." Taryn whispered

"They maybe closer than you think." Rodney blushed a bit.

Giving his head a shake, Taryn reached out and picked up a tray. "Let's just drop it Rodney." He whispered "I'm really not in the right mind set to talk about my love life right now."

"I'm sorry." Rodney whispered.

"Contrary to what seems to be popular belief around here, breaking up sucks after a year of dating." Taryn said weakly. "Even if you find out your boyfriend is kind of an ass."

"You need time, I get that." Rodney said weakly. "I just..."

"Just what?" Taryn asked weakly.

"Its nothing, its stupid." Rodney whispered.

"Nothing out of your mouth is stupid Rodney." He said softly. "Just...clet's have this conversation at a later date. I'm not ready for any type of love life talk right now."

"Sure..." Rodney said weakly before turning to the cook. "Does this Chicken have Citrus in it?"

Rolling his eyes, Taryn watched as the Cook glared at Rodney. "The chicken has citrus in it." He said softly. "You might want to try the pasta. It's a tomato paste with no citrus."

"You could post a warning label." Rodney huffed.

"You could check the menu board." He pointed out softly.

"Menu boards are not always accurate." Rodney said. "And with my allergy I choose not to take the risk, so I always ask."

"The pasta has no citrus." The cook said calmly. "And it even comes with a different spatula so there's no cross contamination."

Chuckling, Taryn watched as Rodney glared at the cook. "Just take it Rodney." He said softly. "It's good."

"Fine..." Rodney huffed. "Not a huge carb fan."

"You sound like someone who has a diet fad going on." Taryn said with a roll of his eyes.

"I'm just trying to be healthy." Rodney said. "What's wrong with that?"

"it's just funny." He smiled playfully.

"There's that smile." Rodney smiled.

"That Smile?" Taryn asked softly. "You do know this is a different face, right?"

"Different gender, same wonderous smile." Rodney smiled.

"of course." He laughed softly.

"See you're not alone." Rodney smiled.

"Let's go eat." He smiled softly, picking up his tray and heading for a table.

"Whatever you say, handsome." Rodney smiled.

"Handsome?" Taryn asked with a raised eyebrow.

"What I'm not allowed to flirt?" Rodney pouted.

"It's not that." He smiled softly. "It's just... I don't really hear that kind of thing often."

"Why not?" Rodney asked.

"I don't know. too tomboyish in girl form which I've always been in." He shrugged.

"I'm sure someone had something nice to say about your appearance." Rodney said.

"My last boyfriend started dating me to get me into the NID." He corrected. "To get close to me. Even those who end up dating me don't really want to. It's just kind of a theme."

"Well it's time to change that theme." Rodney smiled.

"I'm doubtful of that happening." Taryn smiled weakly.

"You said you didn't want to have love life conversations." Rodney smiled.

"You're right." He smiled. "Let's talk about yours. Did Carson go back to Scotland?"

"Yeah he's back in Scotland." Rodney whispered.

"At least he got the chance to visit." He smiled softly. "Who knows, maybe he'll surprise you again soon."

"How do you know that?" Rodney asked.

"Just a feeling I have." he said softly

"He might not want to come back." Rodney sighed.

"Why wouldn't he want to come back?" Taryn asked as he set his tray down on the nearest table and took a seat.

"We had a rather tense discussion before he left." Rodney sighed.

"Sounds fun." he said softly "What was it about?"

"About us." Rodney said.

"About you two?" He asked softly. "What could you two possibly have to talk about?"

"And here is where it morphs into your love life that you don't want to talk about." Rodney smiled weakly.

Taryn raised an eyebrow at the sound of that. "I don't understand how your relationship in any way morphs into my love life." He said softly.

"Colonel Mayborn had a right to be Jealous." Rodney whispered.

"Oh?" He asked with a raised eyebrow, taking a moment to process what Rodney had said and feeling his eyes going wide when it clicked. "O... Oh..."

"I love you...as more than just a friend." Rodney said.

"You... ok..." Taryn whispered, trying to process what Rodney was telling him. "But... Carson..."

"I love Carson too, I'm just... so confused." Rodney whispered.

"It really shouldn't that that confusing." Taryn said softly.

"Why do you say that?" Rodney asked

"You and Carson work." He said softly. "You two are good together. Your conversations are easy, you enjoy each other's company. You're made for each other."

"What about you?" Rodney asked.

"I'm still doubtful I'm made for anyone." He shrugged. "That being said, you and Carson are good together Rodney. I shouldn't even be a choice over him."

"Oh, that wasn't the issue." Rodney said.

"It wasn't? " Taryn frowned.

"It was his suggestion that started the fight." Rodney said.

"That sounds... interesting." He said softly. "What was his suggestion exactly?"

"He suggested I date both of you." Rodney said softly. "I couldn't do that to either of you."

Taryn sat there stunned for a moment, not sure what to say in response to Rodney's explanation.

"Yeah..." Rodney sighed.

"Your boyfriend is weird..." He said softly.

"You see my problem." Rodney whispered.

"I think my main problem is this." He corrected, waving a hand over his body. "Carson has met me. Anytime I said earlier him from now on I have to be in female form."

"You don't think you'll go back?" Rodney asked.

"I'm kind of sick of hiding who I am." He whispered. "I want to be able to change when I want. To be who I am."

"Carson won't care about that." Rodney said. "He deals with transgender patients all the time."

"He...he does?" Taryn asked, a little shocked by this new information.

"He's exclusively an LGBT doc." Rodney said.

"That's... useful actually." He said softly "It still doesn't make the fact that I can physically change form easier to swallow. I think this is one of those things labeled 'classified' in my life."

"I'm guessing you encountered that word a lot in your life." Rodney sighed.

"Terri and I got used to the use of that word when we were five." He sighed. "We started hating it when we were 10."

"Well if you want to be friends with me and want to continue being a man then you're going to have to tell Carson." Rodney said.

"That would probably require clearness of some sort..." Taryn whispered.

"I'm sure I can get it." Rodney smiled. "All I have to do is get Dr. Fraser to hire him."

"You sound confident that you can do that." Taryn chuckled fondly.

"Carson is an amazing doctor." Rodney said. "I was working on some stuff late at night and without knowing the context he solved the problem."

"Sounds like a smart guy" Taryn smiled softly, poking at his chicken and laughing when Rodney started to go on a rant about how awesome Carson was.

Pulling his jacket on, Taryn made his way down the hallway towards the elevator, so he could leave for the day. He was looking forward to finding a small bar and hiding away in a corner with a glass of whiskey.

"Taryn!" Mike called as the man passed his office.

"I was leaving." He said calmly, watching as Mike walked over to him.

"Have you figured out a place to stay?" Mike asked.

Taryn shrugged his shoulders. "Dad's driving me home. I need to crash at his place till I find a new apartment after all."

"I have to wait till John gets done with work to go home." Mike whispered.

"why is that?" Taryn frowned "you drove us here this morning."

"I may have driven here this morning, but the Colonel won't let me drive home." Mike sighed.

"Dad has weird rules sometimes." He shrugged "if you want to leave early you can head out with me. John can pick you up from the bar."

"Bar?" Mike asked.

"There's one close to dads new place." He shrugged.

"I could use a drink after today." Mike sighed. "I was planning on going to see Terri before I head out."

"I can ask dad to wait up for you." Taryn said with a shrug of his shoulders. "Or John can join if he wants."

"You sure?" Mike asked. "I don't want to make you a third wheel at your own thing."

"Not the first time I've been a third wheel, not going to be the last." He smiled "Comes with the territory."

"What territory would that be?" Mike asked.

"Being Terri's sibling and your best friend." Taryn smiled. "You kind of just get used to it."

"I don't want you to feel that way." Mike said. "How was lunch with McKay?"

Taryn shrugged his shoulders "Whatever." He said softly. "Go see Terri. I'll meet you outside."

"See you later." Mike smiled weakly.

"Say hi to Terri for me." Taryn smiled. "And try to ignore Martouf. He's annoying."

"Martouf?" Mike raised an eyebrow. "Another snake head?"

"You'll find out what I mean." He smiled softly.

"If you say so." Mike smiled. "See you soon."

Nursing his whiskey, Taryn watched as John and Mike danced in the middle of the bar, surrounded by countless other couples, would be couples, and people just trying to get laid. They were the only ones who seemed to fit together though. A nice easy movement going on between them.

It was almost cute.

"Dorks..." He muttered under his breath, taking back a swig of his drink and placing down the empty glass.

"I always want to remember your handsome face." Mike whispered as he held onto John.

"What is that supposed to mean, Handsome?" John chuckled softly

"It's nothing." Mike said as he pulled himself close.

"You're ridiculous" He smiled, holding Mike in his arms and pressing a tender kiss to his forehead.

"But I'm your ridiculous." Mike smiled.

"I love you" He smiled softly.

"I love you too." Mike smiled.

"I'm glad to hear it." John chuckled fondly.

"I have to use the bathroom." Mike said as he stepped back.

"Alright. I'll head over to the bar and get us another round of drinks." John promised, leaning over to steal a quick kiss.

Mike smiled before turning around and walking a bit before going head over heels over a chair that was obviously in the way.

"Whoa, Mike!" Running forward, John knelt down beside his Fiancée. "You alright, handsome?"

"Am I bleeding?" Mike asked as he looked around.

John gave his head a shake and started to check Mike for any injuries. "Looks like nothing more than a bump." He smiled fondly. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, I just didn't see that thing there." Mike said as he tried to get up.

"Hey, let me help." John smiled, reaching out to grab Mike's arm to support him "You took one hell of a tumble there handsome."

"I'm sorry." Mike whispered.

"Relax Mike." John smiled softly. "Shit happens. I'm just glad you're ok."

"Johnny, I need to talk to you." Mike said weakly.

"What do you need to tell me?" John asked, looking at Mike softly when he heard his nickname.

"I can't see, Babe." Mike whispered.

"I... I'm sorry, what?" He asked softly.

"I'm almost completely blind..." Mike whispered. "It has been fading for a while now."

"Why... Why didn't you tell me that before?" He asked softly. "Mike, I would have made sure you didn't take a tumble over a chair if I had known."

"That's what I didn't want." Mike sighed. "I don't want help with this..."

"Oh dear god you..." Sighing, John brought his hands up to Mike's face and pressed their foreheads together gently. "You are ridiculous." He said softly.

"Are you ok with this?" Mike asked weakly.

"I love you. that's all that matters." He smiled softly.

"How do you think Terri will take it?" Mike asked.

"I'm not sure." John admitted. "But I do know she's head over heels for you."

"Which means what, exactly?" Mike asked.

"It means I think she'll be ok." He smiled softly.

"Just to be on the safe side, let's not tell her about this till after she has recovered." Mike said.

"You sure about that handsome?" John asked softly

"She has enough on her plate already." Mike whispered.

Thinking about it, John sighed. "I can agree with that." He said softly, leaning forward to press a kiss to Mikes forehead. "Come on. Let's get you to the washroom and then get more drinks. Taryn's probably bored without us."

"He seems preoccupied by something." Mike said. "He's been quiet."

"He did just go through the same thing as Terri plus a break up." John pointed out. "I mean, he had a pretty good reason to want to go out and get drunk after what they went through."

"Yeah, I can see that." Mike nodded.

"Let's just get you to the washroom first." He smiled softly.

"Sure thing, handsome." Mike said as he grabbed John's hand with both of his. "Lead the way."

"Anytime." John chuckled, giving Mikes hand a gentle squeeze and leading him towards the washroom.

Picking up the new drink that the bar tender had put down in front of him, Taryn brought it up to his lips and tipped it so that the whiskey fell into his mouth.

"I'd go easy on that stuff." Mike smiled.

"I thought you two were dancing." He smiled, placing the glass back on the bar while John and Mike sat down beside him.

"We wanted to check on you." Mike smiled.

"I'm fine." He promised. "Go dance. Just try not to fall over any more chairs."

"You were watching?" Mike asked as he blushed a bit.

"Watching you two dance is more fun than getting constantly hit on." He shrugged.

"Why don't you have a dance with John." Mike smiled.

Taryn coughed into his drink at the sound of that, spilling the whisky all over himself as he tried to catch his breath.

"That's an interesting suggestion." John laughed "You do know we're exes, right? Exes don't really dance together."

"I'm blind, I didn't lose my sense of smell and I'd say he's had about a half dozen of those whiskey shots." Mike said. "He'll be comfortable enough to dance with his ex."

"Good point." John chuckled while Taryn attempted to hide his face in his arms "Come on drunk. Let's go to the dance floor."

"You are the worst." Taryn hissed towards Mike, not bothering to even try and pull away as John tugged him to his feet.

"You love me and you know it." Mike smirked.

Taryn rolled his eyes at the sound of that and let John pull him out towards the dance floor.

Feeling someone poking him in the side the next morning, Taryn groaned I'm annoyance and pulled his pillow over his head.

"Go away." He grumbled, attempting to block out the light shining through the windows.

"Wakie wakie." Rodney smiled.

Lifting his head off of the couch, Taryn narrowed his eyes. "My father let you in? " He frowned. "And he didn't threaten to cut anything off?"

"Is that surprising?" Rodney asked.

"It's just...new." He admitted, hiding his face in his pillow once more and closing his eyes.

"I'm opening the windows." Rodney threatened.

"Oh, don't open the windows. " He complained, pulling his blanket over his head to block out the sun.

"A little hung over much?" Rodney chuckled.

"Very hung over." Taryn corrected from under the blanket.

"Come on, get up, I made your favorite." Rodney smiled.

Taryn lifted his head up off of the couch at the sound of that. "You cook?" He asked skeptically.

"Sometimes." Rodney smiled.

"Rodney McKay, always full of Surprises." Throwing his feet over the edge of the couch, Taryn sat up slowly and brought a hand up to his eyes. "Everything is so bright..."

"That's what you get when you drink so much." Rodney smiled.

"I only had a few drinks..." He protested. "Like... 9..."

"9..." Rodney chuckled.

"What are you even doing here Rodney?" He asked softly "Don't you have better things to do than check up on me?"

"Your dad called said you needed something to cheer you up." Rodney smiled.

"I brought lunch!" John declared, stepping into Terri room with a tray of food in hand.

"Good I'm starved." Terri said in English.

"I should go get some rest." Martouf said. "Lantash doesn't do well without sleep."

"There are multiple rooms on base you can sleep in." John said softly, setting Terri's tray down on the table and moving it in front of her carefully.

"I will see you later." Martouf said.

"Think about what I said." Terri said.

Raising an eyebrow, John watched as Martouf left the room. "What was that about, gorgeous?" He asked softly

"Just Tokra stuff." Terri smiled.

"Sounds fun." John smiled, taking a seat in the chair that Martouf had been occupying a moment ago.

"What's up with Mike, please tell me." Terri said. "I know something is up."

"I think that's for him to tell you." John said softly "And he will, I promise."

"Johnny..." Terri tried.

"I don't get to tell Mike's secrets without his permission." He smiled softly. "Now eat. He'll talk to you when he's ready."

"Sure..." Terri whispered.

"He'll talk to you." John promised, reaching out and putting a hand over Terri ' "I know he will."

"How do you know that?" Terri asked.

"We had a very long conversation after the bar yesterday." He smiled

"A bar?" Terri raised an eyebrow. "Did you boys have fun without me?"

"Just a bit." John smiled "we mostly went out to make sure Taryn got home."

"How Noble of you." Terri chuckled.

"We do have times where we are noble." John smiled playfully. "Now eat up, before it gets cold."

"Is that a Fortiano's box?" Terri smiled.

"The mess doesn't have vegetarian options, so I went to your favorite place." He smiled "Figured you deserved a nice meal."

"You're the best." Terri smiled.

"I do try." John smiled.

Stepping out of the washroom, Taryn fixed her hair over her shoulder and sighed. the headache hadn't gone away at all with the painkillers, but at least the house smelled like Pancakes.

"You are about to have Rodney McKay's famous pancakes." Rodney smiled.

"You have to compete with my dad for 'best pancakes'." She declared, stepping into the kitchen as Rodney turned to look at her. "And I have to tell you, it's unlikely that you'll win. It's the only thing he can cook."

"I take that as a challenge." Rodney smiled.

Giving her head a shake, Taryn made her way over to the coffee pot and started to pour herself a cup as Rodney watched her. "Is it too weird?" She asked, looking back at him. "Changing genders. I can try and keep one if you want."

"Did you see me react badly?" Rodney asked.

"When I relax it just kind of... changes with my mood." She shrugged. "Makes things awkward once in a while."

"It's not awkward." Rodney smiled.

"I once woke up in the middle of a camping trip with John in my male form." She chuckled fondly. "He was so... I don't even know the word."

"Did he react negatively?" Rodney asked.

"I don't think you could say he had a negative reaction." She smiled. "But we don't talk about that. Mike hates when we talk about that."

"Is that how he discovered he was bi?" Rodney asked.

"I think it's how he admitted it to himself." Taryn agreed. "I mean, a month later he was trying to get into Mike's pants so..."

"Yeah..." Rodney chuckled.

Smiling, Taryn gave her head a shake. "I've had sex with more than just John in that form." She smiled. "And before you ask, not. Not all of them were guys."

"Really." Rodney chuckled.

"You think Terri the only Bi one?" She smiled playfully.

"I guess I should learn not to assume around you two." Rodney chuckled.

"That would be a smart idea" Taryn chuckled.

Sitting on the couch, Taryn typed away at her laptop in annoyance as her dad walked up behind her.

"Planned parenthood? " Jack frowned, causing Rodney to jump up from his spot and hit the ground. "What's that for?"

"Hi dad, how was work. You paying for Rodney's ass replacement?" Taryn asked sarcastically, laughing when her dad smacked her across the back of the head.

Rodney chuckled as he texted Carson on his phone.

"I asked a question" jack frowned

"They're a medical center." Taryn shrugged. "I should probably get an STD check. Maybe also a 'creepy loser cooties' check."

"Creepy lose c..." jack clenched his jaw when Taryn's joke clicked in his mind. "I'll kill him."

"I'll give you the gun." Taryn smiled

"Can I help?" Rodney smirked.

"Cute." Taryn smiled. "But he's a colonel, Rodney. He's actually capable of kicking your ass."

"I'm not scared." Rodney shrugged.

"Dad was special ops." She smiled. "He has better training."

"Plus, I'm just better all around." Jack smirked.

"Your dad may act tough but deep down he's a teddy bear." Rodney smiled.

Rolling her eyes, Taryn finished setting an appointment on the planned parenthood site.

"You sure you want to do that?" Rodney asked.

"Better safe than sorry" she shrugged

"And if you are?" Rodney asked.

"If I am unlucky enough to be..." She shivered at the thought. "I'll probably swallow 500 pills to get rid of it."

"That's a big decision to make rashly." Rodney said.

"There's no other choice to make." Taryn said simply

"She'll go with what's right for her." Jack agreed, leaning down and pressing a kiss to the top of Taryn's head before making his way towards the kitchen.

"Is it even possible?" Rodney asked.

"Of course, being pregnant is possible." Taryn frowned "Why wouldn't it be?"

"Well when you turn into a guy you don't exactly have the equipment, do you?" Rodney asked.

"Uhhh… Ya..." She winced as she thought about it. "I mean, it depends on what form I take, but I have working reproductive systems for both of them."

"So, you can be pregnant in either form?" Rodney asked.

"Yes, that's what it means." She smiled weakly.

"Sorry, sometimes I let my curiosity run away with me." Rodney blushed.

"It's OK. " Taryn smiled. "It's a new and complicated thing to understand. The only time I'll have to be in female form is giving birth. It'll be easier that way."

"So, have you reconsidered?" Rodney asked.

"Still not having his kid." She huffed. "We don't need more Mayborns in the world."

"It's up to you." Rodney said.

"What do you mean?" She asked softly

"It's a woman's body so that makes it her decision." Rodney said.

"That's very enlightened of you." She smiled. "Though I shouldn't be too surprised. You are a very enlightened person."

"You think that about me?" Rodney blushed.

"Why wouldn't I?" Taryn asked softly/ "You're the second person not to freak when you found out about my abilities, you're super smart, and you're really sweet. Of course, you're enlightened."

"Why thank you." Rodney smiled as he put his hand over hers.

Glancing down at their hands, Taryn smiled weakly and allowed herself to lean up against Rodney after putting her laptop off to the side.

Sitting down beside Terri's bed the next day, Taryn kept quiet as she watched her sister sleeping and laid the envelope the doctors had given her down on her lap.

"Oh... um." Martouf said weakly.

Looking up from her spot, Taryn raised an eyebrow. "You're still here?"

"Shouldn't you be keeping your voice down?" Martouf asked.

"She's sleeping, chill." She sighed softly. "One needs a lot of sleep after what she went through."

"Exactly what I mean." Martouf huffed. "Who are you anyways?"

"Who am I? " Taryn frowned, looking down at her body and sighing "I. ..just..." closing her eyes, Taryn took a deep breath and let Athena take control.

"You must work on your person skills, Martouf." Athena smiled softly. "At least, with those who are not Terri and Captain Carter. You seem to have no problem with them."

"Did you switch hosts, my lady?" Martouf asked.

"I did not switch hosts." She smiled. "My host has the ability to change gender."

"That is… interesting." Martouf said.

"Really? I found it interesting" She smiled. "I have never been in a male host before."

"I see." Martouf said.

"You two are loud." Terri groaned.

"Maybe you just didn't need any more sleep." Taryn chuckled, sticking her tongue out at her sister when Terri smacked her in the arm.

"Did you think about what I said?" Terri asked as she turned towards Martouf but it was Lantash that responded.

"If the disease is in the early stages I may be able to help him." Lantash said.

"What in good lord are you two talking about?" Taryn frowned.

"It's nothing." Terri said.

"Alright, if you don't want to talk about it I won't press." She sighed

"Can't you read my mind?" Terri asked.

"I can't sneak into your mind even if I wanted." Taryn smiled. "Not in this form at least."

"What do you mean by that?" Terri asked.

"I just mean...when I went to bed last night I could still feel you. I knew you were in my mind. When I changed form this morning you... you disappeared."

"I wonder why that is." Terri frowned.

"I think whatever happened when you blended... We can only communicate when I'm in my male form."

"Interesting..." Terri said. "Anyways, we were talking about Mike."

"About Mike?" Taryn frowned "What exactly do you have to say about him that involves a disease?"

"Mike is a poor liar." Terri said. "He can't hide shit from me."

Taryn shook her head at the sound of that. "He has never been a good liar." She pointed out. "At least not to you and John."

"All I had to do is hack into Dr. Fraser's files while she was at lunch." Terri smiled.

"My only question is will he take the help." She said softly. "You know how he feels about symbionts."

"You got used to the idea." Terri smiled.

"I kind of got one shoved in me." She pointed out

"He likes Lantash." Terri smiled.

"He does?" Taryn asked with a raised eyebrow. "He only just met him."

"You should have heard him chatting it up with Lantash about ancient cultures when he was here yesterday." Terri smiled.

"It was probably a sight." She chuckled. "He doesn't get to talk to a lot of people about the things he loves."

"It was like I wasn't even in the room." Terri shrugged.

Giving her head a shake, Taryn leaned forward and poked her sister in the forehead. "Trust me, that man will never forget when you're in a room." She smiled softly.

"How can you be sure about that?" Terri asked.

"I think I know my best friend." She chuckled

"What are you doing here anyways?" Terri asked.

"I thought I would hang out with you today." She smiled. "I have a busy day tomorrow and my team is scheduled for a mission the day after, so today seemed like a good day to visit."

"I'm fine, sis." Terri said softly. "I'm even using English a little bit."

"That's an improvement." Taryn smiled

"You and dad both worry too much." Terri smiled.

"It's part of being a family." Taryn smiled. "You just kind of have to deal with it."

"I don't know if I want to." Terri pouted.

"You love us and you know it." She smirked

"Couldn't live without you or the grump." Terri chuckled.

"The grump?" Taryn asked with a raised eyebrow "What has him upset this time?"

"He was on about something regarding the President and Sam." Terri shrugged. "I knew better than to pry."

"I'm not sure what's going on with the president, but there's no need to pry on the Sam front." She smirked "That one is obvious."

"Why is that obvious?" Terri asked.

"Ask the guy who's constantly fawning over her." She explained, pointing over at Martouf.

"Martouf is only like that because Sam bears a striking resemblance to his mate Jolinar." Terri smiled.

"That's kind of weird." Taryn admitted. "Especially since Sam is not Jolinar."

"I think I know what the President thing is about." Terri said.

"And what's that?" Taryn asked softly

"You're not going to like it." Terri said.

"Do I ever like it?" She sighed. "Go ahead, tell me anyways. I may as well know."

"Mayborn reported Dad and Sam to the Pentagon for their fraternization." Terri said. "I saw the write up in the stack of papers dad was pretending to work on."

"You... I..." slapping a hand over her eyes, Taryn groaned. "He is such a bitter ass hole." She sighed softly. "How do you even remember that?"

"Helps to have a photographic memory." Terri smiled.

"I guess so." Taryn sighed, wondering what to do about the situation.

"Don't go there." Terri said calmly.

"I feel like it's my fault..." She whispered. "I feel like Harry's doing this because of me."

"Dad will figure things out." Terri said. "He always does."

"I guess..." Taryn whispered.

Walking out of planned parenthood the next morning, Taryn rubbed a hand over her eyes and groaned. "Cancelled appointment my ass." She hissed under her breath "Who the hell cancels an appointment that someone else made?"

She made her way towards her car slowly, doing her best to ignore the nauseous feeling in her stomach.

"I hate everything." she grumbled, searching her purse for her car keys while she continued to complain under her breath.

"I doubt you hate everything." Mayborn said as he walked up.

Turning around in her spot, Taryn took her keys across Harrys face and watched as he stumbled backwards. "What the hell?" She demanded, taking a moment to register who was standing behind her. "You do not sneak up on me."

"What the hell!?" Harry demanded,

"It's a flesh wound, you'll get over it." She huffed, turning back towards her car.

"Can we talk?" Harry asked.

"We are so not talking." She growled, clenching her jaw when Harry put a hand on her door and prevented her from opening it. "I will break it off."

"I think we need to, considering where you are right now." Harry said.

"Can I girl not go to see a medical professional without being asked about it?" She growled.

"How many times have you been there?" Harry asked.

Taryn rolled her eyes at the sound of that and turned to face Harry. "If you must know, this was actually my second visit." She huffed. "I had plans today, of they hadn't..." Taryn narrowed her eyes at Harry when things started to click into place. "Did you cancel my appointment on me?"

"I believe I have a right to." Harry said.

"You slim by Fuck. " She growled." Smacking Harry across the face. "How dare you?!"

"How dare you not tell me?!" Harry demanded. "I believe I am involved here too unless you cheated on me with that McKay guy."

"Oh, screw off." Taryn hissed "I've never slept with Rodney."

"I think I have at least a right to know if I am going to be a father." Harry said. "Cause I damn well know you're not here for STD testing."

"Well good news, you're not going to be a father. " She growled back at him. "I'm taking care of that in a few days and you are not cancelling my appointment again."

"You're not having an abortion." Harry huffed.

"It's my body." She said angrily. "I don't have to carry any child I don't want, and I certainly don't want yours."

"Since when?" Harry asked.

"You handed me over for experimentation!" She yelled, narrowing her eyes when Harry slapped a hand over her mouth to silence her

"I had orders." Harry hissed.

"Well, then you had the audacity to get mad at me for being myself." She huffed "You gave up the right to have any say in my life with all of that bullshit. When you decided I was some sort of freak."

"Well, you could have told me about that little power." Harry huffed.

"I am not having your kid." She said sternly, turning back towards her car and opening the door. "I am not having any kid. I was 23. I'm not ready for kids."

"Once it is born I will take care of it." Harry said.

"I'm not having your kid." Taryn said again, a bit more sternly this time.

"You won't have to have anything to do with it once it is born." Harry said.

Looking down at the hand around her wrist, Taryn clenched her jaw. "I'm sorry I don't think the world needs a kid for you to corrupt." She growled. "To teach how to ruin lives and be a bitter ass hole."

"Who says I am bitter?" Mayborn asked.

"You reported my dad for something that has never happened." She growled "For something we did, not him and Captain Carter."

"It needed to be reported." Harry said.

"He could lose his job." She hissed, pulling her hand away from his grip "he could lose a job he has been working since he was 18, and for you're pissed I wasn't the perfect girl to control and use?"

"Oh right, the countless times he has put his team at risk because of Carter being in trouble is nothing." Harry huffed.

"He has a crush Harry. He has never done anything about it because of regulations." She growled

"But he lets it affect his judgement." Mayborn said.

"Right, because you never did." Taryn rolled her eyes.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Mayborn said.

"Take back that report." She said calmly

"I'm sorry I can't do that." Mayborn said.

"You want this kid? Take back that report and I'll not reschedule my appointment."

"You're blackmailing me?" Mayborn asked.

"I learned from the best." She said calmly. "In this case, that would be you. I mean, you have to be good at something after all."

"Even if I wanted to I can't." Harry said.

"And why is that?" Taryn asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I handed it in to the pentagon this morning. By now it is in the President's hands." Harry said.

"Well then I guess you're shit out of luck." She said calmly, watching as Harry stepped into her space and doing her best to keep her cool.

"You always smell so good when you are in this form." Harry said softly.

"Maybe I was wrong." She said calmly. "Maybe i'm the bitter one."

"You'll get no argument from me." Harry said.

Feeling Harry's hand against her cheek, Taryn took a step back against her car and turned her head away quickly. "Don't..."

"I'm sorry..." Harry said weakly. "I'm just so used to you being close to me."

She closed her eyes, doing her best to ignore the way her skin tingled with excitement where he had touched her.

"Fine..." she whispered, just wanting to get out of there.

"Fine what?" Harry said softly.

"Fine, as in I will have this kid. But once its born I never want to see you again."

"I think I can agree to that." Harry said softly.

Taryn huffed at the sound of that. "Can I go now?" She asked weakly.

"Sure..." Harry said as he took a step back.

Seeing him step away, Taryn turned around and opened her car door carefully before crawling in.

"See it's nice to get out of the infirmary." Mike said as he held Terri's hand as they walked through the base.

"Ok, I admit, I was hiding." Terri smiled as she cuddled his arm. "But you have to stop the lying."

"I was going to tell you, honest." Mike said before Sam passed them and she looked upset.

"Sam." Terri said as she grabbed her friend's arm. "What's going on?"

Looking up at Terri, Sam clenched her jaw as she tried to process everything that had happened. "It's... I..." she sighed, giving up on the thought of lying to Terri about what had happened. "Colonel O'Neill... He asked me out..."

"He asked you out?" Terri frowned. "Then, why are you so upset?"

"Why am I... Terri, its against regulations." She argued "He could lose his rank and job just for asking."

"Sam, listen to me, I know my dad." Terri said. "He wouldn't have done it if A) He knew for a fact he would not lose his job or B) He resigned and retired again and given the nature of the Stargate Program he wouldn't quit until the Goul'd were defeated."

Sam listened to Terri carefully while she looked down at the ground, not sure how to take what Terri was saying to her.

"What I am saying is talk to him." Terri said. "Figure out what his motivations were."

"I don't know..." She whispered, wincing when Terri put a hand on her arm.

"You two are good together and you make him happy." Terri said. "I see it in his smile every time he comes into work."

Thinking about it for a second, Sam sighed. "Alright..."

"Something is still bothering you." Terri said.

"I'm just not sure if right now is a good time for me..." She whispered.

"Why is that?" Terri asked.

"I just...I have some family troubles I'm trying to deal with." She admitted. "They're taking up a lot of my time and energy."

"I've noticed you've been upset lately." Terri said softly. "What's going on? Did something happen while you were in Washington?"

"It's just…" Sam closed her eyes and gave herself a moment to gather her thoughts. "I saw my dad when we were in Washington and he gave me some bad news. He... he has Cancer..."

"Oh, Sam... I'm so sorry." Terri said softly.

"It's not something to be sorry about." She whispered. "I just... it has all of my attention right now. I have a lot of mending to do with him in the short time we have left together. I don't know if I can focus on a new relationship as well."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Terri asked.

Sam shook her head weakly. "There's no guaranteed cure for Cancer. All I can do is hope he beats it." She whispered

"Actually, I may have a cure for that." Terri said. "But I don't know if General Carter will go for it."

"What do you mean?" Sam frowned.

"Lantash just told me about one of Aphrodite's friends in the Tok'Ra whose host is dying." Terri said.

Looking down at the floor, Sam sighed. "He would need clearance first." She whispered. "He doesn't even know what I do for a job."

"It's worth a shot, isn't it?" Terri asked.

"I just mean I'll have to talk to general Hammond and then work on talking to my dad if we get him clearance." She explained "Who knows how long that could take."

"I'm sure the General can expedite matters." Terri said.

"Maybe..." Sam whispered. "I guess i'll have to have a talk with him. Martouf as well if I can convince dad to do this."

"We are actually on our way to see Martouf and Lantash." Terri said as she looked over at Mike.

"Why are you going to talk to him?" Sam frowned

"Martouf doesn't want to be host to Lantash anymore." Terri said softly.

"I guess that makes sense." She smiled "Thank you, Terri. I'll let you know what I find out."

"Anytime, Sam." Terri smiled.

Sam nodded her head and walked past Terri, allowing herself to grip the other woman's shoulder gently before moving on.

"No." Mike said once Sam left.

"What?" Terri asked innocently.

"I know where you are going with all this and I am not spending my life sharing my body just so I can see." Mike huffed.

"Just talk with Lantash." Terri said. "You got along with him great last time."

Mike pursed his lips as they started to walk again.

Driving up to the hospital that Carter had specified, Jack put the truck in park and looked back at General Hammond. "You two head in. I'll find parking and join you after, sir."

"Are you sure, Colonel?" Hammond asked.

"You know me. I'm more of an action guy." He smiled playfully, watching from the corner of his eye as Sam got out of the vehicle and headed to the entrance. "Besides, you two are old friends. You don't need me to convince him."

"You're going to have to have more than a two second conversation with him eventually Jack." Hammond said. "I didn't pull those strings for you just, so you can ignore her family."

"I know that Sir, and I still appreciate all of those strings you pulled." Jack said softly "I was just thinking that a conversation between him and me would be best saved for after he dealt with all of this. When his head I maybe a bit more clear."

"Colonel." Hammond tried.

"I'm sure if i don't act quick enough you'll kick my ass into gear, sir." He smiled softly.

"You're damn right I will." Hammond said.

Jack chuckled at the sound of that "Go Sir, I'll be right in I promise."

"Don't be too long in parking, Colonel." Hammond said.

"I won't." He promised, watching as the General climbed out of the vehicle and headed into the hospital before taking the truck out of park and going to find a stall.

Walking into Mike's office, Taryn smiled when she saw her sister, Terri and Martouf. "And here you are, having a party without me." She smiled playfully.

"We are just talking Sis." Terri smiled.

"If you and Mike are there, it's a party." She smiled, walking over and taking a seat on mike's desk. "What's this one about?"

"I'm trying to convince knucklehead here that being blended with Lantash will be a good thing for him." Terri said as Mike huffed.

"I mean, you're not wrong." Taryn said softly

"Thank you." Terri said.

"Seriously?" Mike demanded.

"I got used to blending." She shrugged "and honestly Athena made it a bit easier to be more comfortable with myself. She won't stand for me hiding any part of me."

"I just don't know about sharing every waking moment with someone." Mike said.

"It's no different than if you had me or John in your head." Terri said.

"Why would you or John be in his head?" Taryn frowned

"Well it is kind of a soul mate thing." Terri said.

"I guess..." She shrugged "but yeah, you're never alone in your mind. It's kind of nice."

"Nice?" Mike asked.

"You'd always have someone to talk to, even when you're working alone." She smiled.

"I guess it would be nice to have someone to discuss ancient cultures with." Mike said.

"There you go, babe!" Terri smiled.

"See, that wasn't so bad." Taryn smiled. "Now think of all the other things that would be could have lord only knows how many years of memories shared with you. I get snippets from the ancient Greece era."

"What would Lantash give me?" Mike asked.

"Lantash is a scholar, he knows a lot about ancient cultures of this planet and many other races." Martouf said.

"That sounds like a dream mind for you to share." Taryn chuckled.

"Please think about it, Mike." Terri said. "I would love you if you were blind but I'm afraid you won't love yourself because you wouldn't be able to continue your work."

"Yeah, you'll be really depressed if you can't work." Taryn agreed.

"Isn't my best friend supposed to be talking me out of dangerous decisions?" Mike huffed.

"Listen to your fiancée." She smiled softly. "Think about it."

"Ugh... I hate it when you two tag team me." Mike groaned. "Fine, I'll think about it."

"Yay!" Taryn chuckled happily.

"Now get off my desk." Mike complained.

Taryn rolled her eyes at the sound of that "You are such a prude sometimes." She pointed out as she jumped off of the desk.

"No, you were just sitting on a priceless artifact." Mike smirked.

"I was doing no such thing." Taryn protested. "Not that you could see."

"I can see well enough to see your ass on a stone tablet." Mike countered.

"Maybe you're not going blind. Maybe you're just losing sight of everything that's not a precious artifact." Taryn smirked

"That makes absolutely no sense." Mike huffed.

"Mmm, you're right. That makes no sense because you're losing sight of Terri and me." She smirked.

"You know what?" Mike huffed as he grabbed his papers. "Bite me, O'Neill."

"Mike..." Terri tried as he brushed past her.

"Mike it was a joke." Taryn protested, groaning when he walked out of the room. "Jeez..."

"He's really sensitive about his eyesight right now." Terri whispered.

"Sorry..." She sighed, running a hand through her hair carefully. "Need to be careful about joking with him sometimes."

"I'll get John to intercept him." Terri said as she picked up Mike's phone and dialed the rec-room.

"Have fun with that" Taryn sighed as she left the room.

Dropping his towel on the bench, John reached into his back and retrieved his phone "Hello." He answered with a smile.

"Hey babe, sorry to interrupt your work out session but we have a Jackson meltdown on our hands." Terri said.

"Sounds like fun." John sighed. "Any idea where he's headed?"

"If I know him he's going to try to drive home." Terri said. "And I know him pretty well."

"I'll find him" he promised "I always do"

"Thanks babe." Terri smiled.

"Anytime gorgeous." John smiled softly. "I'll take care of everything. I promise"

"Is there anything I can do?" Terri asked.

"Just keep being amazing." He smiled.

"That's a tall order." Terri said softly as her stomach did flip flops.

"I think you can manage it, gorgeous." John chuckled "I'll talk to you after I get him back." He promised, hanging up the phone slowly and letting put a soft sigh before heading towards the door.

Jack made his way down the hallway carefully, searching for General Carter's room and any hint of Sam or General Hammond.

"Good of you to make it, Colonel." Hammond said.

Stopping beside the General, Jack looked at the door with a raised eyebrow "I take it she's trying to convince him?"

"Yes, she is." Hammond said.

"It is a difficult choice to make, Sir." He said softly. "Live and give up part of your freedom and self or keep yourself and die."

"Is that really what you think your children are doing?" Hammond asked.

"Well, they wern't dying in any capacity." Jack pointed out. "But I do think they kind of just settled."

"I've debriefed both of them thoroughly, Colonel, it seems to me that they are better off with the symbionts." Hammond said. "They get guidance and advice from them and I fully believe that their speedy recovery from their recent incident is because of that guidance they get from the symbiotes."

"I can see that Sir, doesn't mean I like it." He said softly. "They're my daughters. This should have been a choice for them from the beginning, not forced on them in any form."

"As I understand it if Aphrodite left Terri your daughter would be hunted down by the system lords because of the nature of her abilities." Hammond said. "I'm pretty sure the same would go for Taryn."

"Probably..." Jack whispered

"The fact of the matter is, having those symbionts inside of them is keeping them safe." Hammond said.

"They were kidnapped here on earth because of those things." Jack pointed out "I wouldn't say they're that great at protecting them."

"That was our fault, not theirs." Hammond said

"I'm not here to talk him out of this Sir." He said softly. "i'm here if he says yes to drive us back to the plane and take him through the gate."

"And meet your new girlfriend's father properly?" Hammond smiled.

"She's not my girlfriend...yet." Jack protested "But I do suspect there will be actual time to meet him that doesn't involve me lying about my job, yes."

Hammond chuckled at that. "You won't have to lie to him about satellites anymore, Colonel."

"Oh thank god." Jack sighed "Satellites are so boring. I don't know how Carter gushed about all of that with a straight face."

"She's well practiced at it." Hammond smiled.

Hearing the door open, Jack turned around to see Sam walking out of the room. "He's ready to go." She smiled weakly.

"That's good." Hammond said.

Watching the General heading back into the room, Jack smiled softly when Sam walked over to him. "At least we're getting him some help" he said softly

"That's always a bonus." Sam smiled weakly.

Helping Jacob off of the plane, Jack looked back as Sam and General Hammond followed them down the stairs and towards the car that was waiting for them.

"Maybe the doctor was right about the no travel." Jacob coughed.

"Just hold on Sir." Jack said softly "I promise the base isn't that far from here. we'll have you off world and feeling like you're 20 in no time."

"I'll take your word on that, Colonel." Jacob said.

"It's just a little farther, Jacob." Hammond said.

"Not to mention this was the easy travel..." sam whispered

"A plane ride while on deaths door is easy?" Jacob asked. "What the hell is this Stargate thing?"

"It'll be worth it, I promise." She said softly

"I trust you, Sammy." Jacob smiled weakly.

"Glad to hear it." Sam smiled softly

"So, are we doing this alone?" Jacob asked.

"We have someone going with us to ensure the Tok'ra know we're friends." She smiled softly. "Once you get there it's smooth sailing."

"I'm going to pass out if you talk about sailing." Jacob said.

"You pass out i'm going to make the colonel carry you." She smirked

"You, a captain, can make a full bird colonel carry me?" Jacob asked.

"We don't question what Carter can do." Jack warned "Last time it ended badly for the other guy."

"How badly?" Jacob asked.

"It was just a stab wound." Sam smirked. "I really don't know what the guy was complaining about after all the sexist comments I put up with."

"That's my girl." Jacob smiled.

"The colonel got off lucky. Carrying you would be payback for 'I don't like scientists." She smirked

"I thought we let that comment die." Jack protested.

"Never, sir."

"Is there something going on between you two?" Jacob asked.

"I'm dying, Sam, I'm not stupid." Jacob said. "Normal superiors and subordinates don't interact like that."

"You ... I..." she glanced over at Jack for support.

"There is literally nothing to talk about right now." Jack protested, grunting when General Hammond pinched him in the side. "I'm going to drop him of you do that again, sir."

Hammond glared at jack as he opened the door to the motor-caid.

"Sam..." Jacob said.

"It's not like that..." Sam started to ramble. ".. We..."

"I don't care as long as you have proper authorization and you are happy, Sam." Jacob said.

Blinking, Sam looked up at her dad in shock "I..."

"You give yourself away." Jacob said. "You realize I have to talk to him after all this is over."

"Dad... Dear god do not give him the talk..." she sighed. "He's a dad. He has given the talk. He knows it well."

"Us military men have to protect our daughters." Jacob said. "Isn't that right, George."

"Absolutely." Hammond said. "But Colonel O'Neill is one of the finest officers I have ever had the pleasure of commanding."

Jack closed his eyes at the sound of that, not sure exactly how to respond to the situation as he stopped in front of a car and waited for Sam to open the backseat door before helping Jacob in.

"So why you?" Jacob asked.

"We'll talk about it later sir." He promised "right now let's focus on making sure you can make that talk last as long as you want."

"I just mean Sam hasn't really be interested in any guys me or her brother set her up with." Jacob said. "Why you?"

"I think that's a question to ask her, sir." Jack pointed out "I'm not really sure why she likes me at all."

Sam rolled her eyes at the sound of that and watched as jack finished getting her dad into the car

"I will do that, Colonel." Jacob said.

Jack smiled at that and gave his head a shake "Let's get you to the base." He said softly, standing up and closing the door before heading to the driver's side.

"No," john said as he walked up behind Mike and snatched his keys away.

"Give me my keys, John." Mike huffed as he tried to grab them from his Fiancée.

"Not a chance Mike. You're not going anywhere." He said sternly

"Please give me my keys." Mike said softly.

"Mike, you're more than half blind. Letting you drive would be putting you and others in danger." John explained. "I'm not doing it."

"I have to get out of here." Mike said. "I'll walk home."

"You could try talking to me." He said softly.

Mike shook his head.

"Mike, talk to me." John begged "Please."

"Terri is hiding something from us." Mike said softly.

John frowned at the sound of that. "What do you mean?"

"I'm blind and I can see it." Mike whispered. "She's been throwing up in the mornings."

Rubbing the bridge of his nose, John sighed. "I feel like everyone has secrets these days..." He whispered softly.

"I'm sorry, it's probably my fault." Mike whispered.

"Why would you say that?" John frowned

"I told her I didn't want kids..." Mike whispered.

"Mike..." Sighing john stepped forward and brought a hand up to his fiancées face. "Why would you not want kids handsome?"

"Because I really didn't have a good parent, so I don't know if I want to be a parent myself." Mike whispered.

"I get that…" He whispered. "Doesn't mean Terri is pregnant or not telling us because of you."

"Why else wouldn't she tell us?" Terri asked.

"She could have her reasons, just like you did." He said softly

"I don't know..." Mike whispered.

"I do." John said softly. " And no matter what I know you're not alone. We're in this together no matter whose kid this is."

"It's got to be yours because I haven't slept with her since she got back." Mike said.

"Which you really should fix." John chuckled softly.

"I will once I can see her." Mike said.

"When?" John frowned "you figure something out without telling me?"

"Terri has a way to cure it and I think I am going to go for it." Mike said.

"Well that's good." He smiled softly "means my gorgeous fiancée gets to see me the next time I get down on my knees for him."

"John..." Mike blushed.

"You love it and you know it." He chuckled

"I do, and I love you." Mike smiled.

"I love you too." John smiled, pulling mike close and pressing a tender kiss to his forehead.

Jacob nodded before the embarkation room doors opened and Terri came in in her tok'ra garb.

"What do you think you're doing?" Jack frowned, turning to face Terri.

"Aphrodite insists that I go." Terri said.

"Insists you... no" He said sternly. "You have a bounty on you."

"I doubt the Ashrak is just lying in wait in the Tok'Ra ranks." Terri said.

"Right, in that case why did they send you to us?" He frowned. "It's not happening."

"Dad..." Terri said weakly. "I need to go. If this doesn't work and Sel'Mac dies Aphrodite needs a chance to say goodbye to him."

"I don't think you get a choice on this one, sir." Sam smiled as Martouf walked into the room. "Looks like a party."

"And the party pooper has joined." Jack huffed in annoyance

"Dad be nice." Terri sighed as Martouf led Mike in.

"We are in the Gate room." Martouf explained.

"Yeah, I can see the light of the stargate." Mike nodded as he felt Terri take his other arm. "Hello beautiful."

"Let's just... let's go." Jack sighed. "taking one side of Jacob and helping him up the ramp towards the gate."

Terri shook her head as she led Mike towards the ramp.

"Come on." Taryn smiled as she took back control of her body. "Before they ditch us and get shot."

"That would be a bad thing." Terri smiled.

"It really would be." Taryn smiled as she walked up the ramp beside her sister and Mike.

Arriving on a desert planet, Taryn sighed as she pulled a covering over her mouth and nose. "Just once can the hideout be somewhere nice?" She sighed.

"The Tok'ra choose planets where it is least likely the Goul'd will look for them." Terri said.

"Let's find the Tok'ra" She said softly, stepping forward as her dad held Jacob up.

"Let's hope they haven't moved from this planet." Terri said as she tried to cover her face from the blowing sand.

"That would not be a good thing." Jack protested, helping Jacob forward through the sand and wincing when people started to pop up around them with weapons aimed towards them.

"I think we found them." Taryn sighed

"Martouf." Terri said as she stepped forward.

Seeing her sister and Martouf step forward to try and calm the Tok'ra down, Taryn took Terri's place beside Mike in case they needed to move and watched the scene in front of her.

"Cordesh." Terri said as she walked up to them.

"M'lady..." One of the Tok'ra lowered his weapons and signaled everyone else to follow suit. "We did not receive word that you were coming."

"It was kind of unexpected." Terri said.

"What are you doing here?" She asked softly

"I have brought a possible host for Sel'mac." Terri said.

"Sel'mac is in the base. She does not have much time left..." She whispered.

"I must see him." Terri said.

"Also, Lantash wishes to transfer hosts." Martouf said.

"And who shall be his new host?" Cordesh frowned

"That would be me." Mike said as he raised his hand.

"That can be arranged" she smiled softly before turning back to Terri. "May I speak with Aphrodite?"

"You can't." Terri said. "She is sleeping."

"What has caused her to sleep at this time?" She frowned

"For the sake of my child." Terri said softly.

"Child!?" Jack demanded angrily, grunting when Sam prevented him from turning to face Terri.

"I'm sorry." Terri cringed.

"Isn't one of you being pregnant enough..." He grumbled under his breath.

"At least Terri's with the father of hers." Taryn huffed. "That's something, dad. I'd take it."

"Actually, not exactly..." Terri started.

"Can we talk about this later?" Sam begged

"The host we have for Sel'mac is very ill." Martouf said.

"Take them down to the tunnels." Terri said.

"Yes, M'lady." Cordish bowed before signally the troops to get back into hiding while she made her way towards the transport pad.

"We are talking about this later." Jack said sternly, glancing back at Terri for a quick second before carrying Jacob towards where Cordish had stopped.

"He wonders why we don't tell him these things." Terri whispered.

"Just ignore him" Taryn sighed. "You know how he is."

"How did we end up pregnant at the same time?" Terri raised an eyebrow.

Taryn shrugged her shoulders "I was thinking of abortion, but I decided against it. What about you?"

"The only way it can be aborted is if Aphrodite surfaces and she refuses to do so." Terri whispered.

"I'm guessing not one of the boys?" Taryn asked, wincing when Terri nodded her head. "Ouch."

"I don't know what to do." Terri whispered.

"I'm sure you'll figure it out." She smiled softly.

"How can you be so sure?" Terri asked.

"You always do, Sis." She reached out and gripped Terri's shoulder gently. "Now come on. Let's go see Sel'mac"

"Dad's going to kill me." Terri whispered as they stepped up to the rings location.

"Yeah..." Terri whispered.

"Yeah, he'll kill him." She chuckled as the rings turned in and surrounded them before transporting them down into the tunnels.

"It's worse than me just having a system lord's child." Terri said.

"What do you mean?" Taryn frowned

"A child from two goul'd blended hosts is called a Harsesis." Terri said. "The child will have all of the memories of Aphrodite and Ba'al. And with my abilities..."

"Youch." she winced. "We really sure we should be bringing that into the universe?"

"Aphrodite seems to think so." Terri whispered.

"Sounds dangerous..." She sighed. "All I have to worry about is the fact that mine will be raised by an ass hole."

"Why are you letting him raise it?" Terri asked.

"Because he wants it and I don't..." Taryn said softly.

"Taryn, you have to know that the only reason why he wants the child is because of your powers." Terri said.

"I know..." she whispered. "I just..."

"What is it?" Terri asked.

"He knows when I try to get an appointment for an abortion..." She whispered. "He cancelled my last one and cornered me at the damned place. He won't let me get one no matter how much I tell him to bugger off."

"Taryn..." Terri said.

"I just want him out of my life..." She whispered.

"Athena can abort it for you." Terri said softly.

"i don't want to ask that of her..." Taryn whispered. "Besides, she needs rest still."

"Once the child is 2 months along she will have to sleep anyways." Terri said.

Taryn shook her head. "I don't know how he would react and I don't want to risk it." She whispered. "I'll figure it out Terri, this is just...this is how it has to be for right now."

"Taryn..." Terri whispered.

"Let's just go find Sel'mac." She smiled weakly. "You said Aphrodite wanted you to see her just in case this didn't work."

"Yeah..." Terri said weakly as Aphrodite's unconscious emotions washed over her.

"Come on." Taryn smiled softly, placing a hand on her sisters back and guiding her down the hallway. "You know best where she's being kept."

"I don't know if I can do this..." Terri whispered.

"We'll go in together." She promised. "Just like always."

Terri bit her lip as she nodded before taking her sister's hand.

"I'm right here beside you." Taryn smiled softly while Terri started to lead her down the hallway.

Stepping inside of Sel'mac's room, Taryn smiled softly wjen she saw Jacob laying down beside her. "This looks comfy."

"Have we missed it?" Terri asked.

"Not yet, Kid." Jacob said.

"I'm sure the floors not that bad." She smiled, watching as Terri made her way to Sel'mac's side.

"How are you, my friend?" Terri asked softly.

"I'm fine." Sel'mac assured her. "It is my host who is dying."

"The host we brought for you isn't in much better shape, I'm afraid." Terri said. "If you can not heal him you will both die."

"Then let us hope I can heal him and save us both." Sel'mac smiled softly. "May I speak with Aphrodite?"

"She is sleeping but I can relay the message." Terri said softly.

Sel'mac smiled softly at the sound of that. "Just tell her that I love her." Sel'mac said softly. "with all of my heart, and I hope that she is happy."

Hearing the symbiont's final confession of love, tears filled Terri's eyes as she looked down at the woman. "She loves you too." She croaked out.

Sel'mac smiled at the sound of that "Thank you."

"Anytime." Terri smiled weakly.

Turning to Jacob, Sel'mac smiled softly "I believe we should get to know each other, if we are to share a body."

"What is there to know, just ask my daughter, I'm a teddy bear." Jacob smiled.

"We can leave you alone." Sam smiled softly. "Just... Call if you need anything."

"Sure thing, kiddo." Jacob smiled as he took Sam's hand.

"Be safe" Sam said softly

"Come on." Taryn sighed, grabbing hold of her sister's arms gently. "Let's go."

"I..." Terri stammered as she stared at Sel'Mac.

"Sel'mac will live, relax." She said softly.

Terri nodded as she followed her sister out of the room.

Getting the both of them out of the room, Taryn sighed as she ran a hand over her face. "That was..."

"I don't know what came over me... It was like it was Mike or John laying there on Death's door." Terri whispered.

"Except it wasn't." She said softly. "That wasn't John or Mike and what you were experiencing were Aphrodite's feelings."

"Those are some powerful feelings..." Terri whispered. "More than her feelings for... Ba'al..." Terri shuddered.

"Also, may I point out that when this works Sel'mac is going to be in Carter's father." She said softly. "Please don't get a crush. He's probably going to be like our grandad."

"No, he's not." Terri said.

"If Sam and dad start dating he will be." She pointed out.

"Ok, that's just creepy, please stop." Terri shuddered.

"Wxactly." Taryn said softly. "Please do not let that be a thing."

"You're not really one to talk." Terri said. "Mayborn was Dad's age."

"Ok, using my relationship with Harry is a bad idea." She pointed out. "I mean, that didn't end well at all."

"Still." Terri said.

Giving her head a shake, Taryn smiled up at her sister softly. "You should go find Martouf and Mike anyways." she said softly. "They'll probably be doing a switch soon."

"Right." Terri said as she pushed herself away from the wall before crying out when she got a pain in her abdomen and Aphrodite surfaced.

"Aphrodite!" Taryn screamed when she saw the glowing eyes "what the hell are you doing?"

"I can not leave Sel'Mac." Aphrodite said. "I've been a fool all these centuries."

"I thought you were avoiding surfacing for the kid!?" She demanded.

"The arrangement I had with Ba'al was a marriage of convenience." Aphrodite said. "I do not intend to return to him now that I know of Sel'Mac's feelings."

"God you are such a..." Taryn clenched her jaw and drew in a deep breath before closing her eyes and letting Athena take over.

"I believe the words she was looking for were irresponsible and fool." Athena finished for Taryn.

"And why do you say that, sister?" Aphrodite asked.

"You cannot for Terri to stay here when her fiancée is going to be blended." she said sternly "Sel'mac is safe and will be fine"

"You would have me choose between my love and my host's?" Aphrodite asked.

"You must choice both" Athena reminded her. "Terri's love does not go away because yours surfaces."

"I know that, but Sel'Mac could die." Aphrodite said.

"Michael is blind and very scared right now." Athena reminded her. "He requires his love's attention at this moment. Sel'mac on the other had has been through this process countless times just as you and I have. She will be fine if you are not there."

Aphrodite bit her lip as she looked back at Sel'Mac's room.

"Aphrodite..." Athena whispered when her sister didn't answer her right away.

"Alright, let's go." Aphrodite whispered.

"Thank you." She sighed, reaching out to take her sisters hand and leading her down the hallways towards the room michael was supposed to be in.

"I hope the blending is successful." Aphrodite said.

"She'll be fine." She promised. "If I can survive 1000 years in a jar, she can survive a new blending."

"I suppose I will have to find a new host." Aphrodite said softly.

"Why do you say that?" Athena frowned.

"I cannot impose this on her." Aphrodite said.

"I believe that should be a decision up to both of you." She said softly. "One that you talk about."

Aphrodite nodded as she clasped her hands in front of her.

"For now let us focus on what is going on in the present." She said softly "You can discuss your decision later."

Aphrodite nodded again as she looked ahead.

Stepping into the room that they had been directed too for Michael and Lantash, Athena smiled softly. "Go..." she whispered, placing a gentle hand on her sister's back to urge her forward.

Aphrodite took a deep breath before letting Terri take over.

"There she is." Taryn smiled as she took over. "How are you feeling?"

"Just don't." Terri said sternly. "I am so pissed at her right now I can't even see straight."

"Of course, you are." Taryn sighed

"Did I miss something?" Mike asked.

"Something you do not want to hear about." Taryn assured him. "You're here now at least."

"Right." Terri whispered.

"Just... Stay with Mike." She sighed softly.

"Fine." Terri huffed.

"If you don't want to stay babe..." Mike started.

"It's not that Mike, I'm just having an argument in my head." Terri said softly.

"We'll fill you in later." Taryn promised "Just relax for now."

"Sure, easy for you to say." Mike hugged.

"I'll be here every step of the way." Terri said.

Watching her sister walk over to Mike's side, Taryn smiled softly

"Where's John? Isn't he normally on your dad's team?" Mike asked.

"We didn't bring the whole team this time." Taryn shrugged. "Daniel and John stayed behind. I don't think anyone told john you were going off world or he would have come."

"Oops." Mike whispered.

"It's ...weird surprise for him when you get back." She smiled playfully.

"Yeah, I just told him you had a cure, I didn't tell him what it was." Mike winced.

"Oh boy..." Terri whispered.

"To be fair, he's the most likely to not freak." Taryn pointed out.

"True." Mike smiled.

"Just focus on right now." She smiled softly.

"She's right babe." Terri smiled weakly.

"Ok... what do I have to do?" Mike asked.

"It's simple." Lantash said. "Kiss me."

"Wow, that was straight forward." Taryn snorted

"Very..." mike whispered

"It's not like you've never kissed a guy before." She pointed out. "You're getting married to one."

"John is the only man I have kissed." Mike said.

"Trust me, Mike, this is easier than the other way." Terri said as she rubbed the back of her neck.

"Way easier." Taryn agreed "Just do it. John will not mind this once considering there is nothing romantic about it."

"Right..." Mike whispered.

"It'll be ok, Mike." Terri said softly.

Seeing Mike turning towards Lantash, Taryn smiled softly and reached out to put a hand on her sisters shoulder for support.

Terri smiled weakly at her sister as she watched Mike move closer to Martouf/Lantash.

"Here goes nothing..." Mike whispered before he leaned forward and took the other man's lips in a kiss before feeling a pain in his throat as he fell back onto the bed he was laying on.

"That is never going to be a pleasant sight." Taryn sighed. "How long is this going to take?"

"It will take Lantash a little bit to heal the damage in his ocular nerves." Martouf said.

She sighed at the sound of that. "I guess we'll be hanging around here a while to give him and general carter time to heal." She whispered

"Right." Terri sighed.

"It shouldn't be that bad." She whispered just before the base shook.

"You know, Jinxing things is a cliché and you know how dad feels about those." Terri said.

"Don't you dare tell him i jinxed this." Taryn groaned. "I'm still living with him right now. I'll never hear the end of it."

"I promise I won't tell him." Terri chuckled.

"Let's just get Mike out if here..." She sighed, kneeling down beside her friend and helping him up carefully.

"Come on, handsome." Terri smiled.

"There's my beautiful angel." Mike smiled at her.

"No flirting during rescue." Taryn protested

"Hello, my handsome prince."

"Urge.." She groaned, rolling her eyes as she helped mike out of the room.

"Go make sure he's ok." Mike said.

"Go make sure who is ok?" Terri asked.

"The guy you have been arguing with Aphrodite about." Mike said. "Taryn will get me to the Stargate."

"I love when you volunteer me for work." Taryn said sarcastically.

"I'll catch up." Terri said as she made her way in the other direction.

Watching her sister head down the hallway, Taryn sighed "You are the worst, Mike"

"You love me and you know it." Mike smirked.

"I'm starring to debate my love for you." She smirked playfully.

"Yeah right." Mike smirked.

"You are so confident" Taryn chuckled.

"You would die without me around." Mike smiled.

"Yeah, I'd die of boredom." She chuckled.

Terri was almost to the room she had left Sel'Mac in when someone rammed into her and pinned her to the wall.

"Cordesh?" She frowned.

"By order of the Goual'old system lords you are hereby sentenced to death for traitorous acts." Cordesh said.

"Ashrak... Great..." Terri groaned before he activated a device and she screamed in pain.

"How about we don't." Jack growled, raising his weapon and letting off a few rounds into Cordesh.

"Fuck that hurt..." Terri groaned.

Running over to his daughter, jack caught her mid fall and smiled weakly. "You're not supposed to get injured."

"Sorry, Sir..." Terri whispered. "How's Sel'Mac?"

"Sam is with him. He's not ready to move so they're waiting as long as they can."

"Let's hope they make it." Terri whispered.

"They'll make it." Jack assured her. "how about you? How are you feeling?"

"It hurts, but I think I can make it." Terri whispered.

"Then let's get to the gate." He smiled softly. "We need to get everyone out of here first though."

"Sure thing." Terri said as she held a hand to her head.

"We'll have them check up on Aphrodite once we're all to safety." Jack promised.

Terri nodded as she tried to get used to the silence in her head.

"Come on." Grabbing his daughter's arm, Jack started to lead her down the tunnels towards the transport pad.

Running through the sand, Taryn grumbled under her breath as she fought with her own feel to keep up a quick pace

"This sucks." Mike huffed

"Running on sand is the worst." She huffed in annoyance.

"Incoming." Mike said.

Seeing an attack plane coming at them, Taryn shoved the both of them onto the ground in time to avoid being hit by fire.

"What now?" Mike asked.

"We need to get out of here..." She whispered weakly.

"Cover me while I go for the DHD." Mike said.

"I'm good at covering." Taryn agreed, shuffling to her feet and helping Mike up before turning around to fire on the incoming forces.

"Where am I dialing to?" Mike asked.

"Just get the stargate open!" She called back to him. "We can take the Tok'ra back to Earth and they can figure out where to go from there!"

Mike nodded as he made a beeline for the DHD.

Keeping her position, Taryn continued to fire at any Jaffa she saw coming their way. The last thing she wanted was Mike getting shot when he just got a new symbiont. that would be hell to explain to her sister.

"Damn it..." she growled when her gun ran out of bullets. Reaching into her side pocket she grabbed her extra magazine and unloaded the empty one. She was about to replace the old magazine in her gun when she felt a hot blast against her chest, knocking her backwards into the sand.

"Taryn!" Mike yelled.

Looking up at the sky, Taryn groaned as she attempted to reach out for her weapon, only to find it being kicked away from her hand as a Jaffa stepped up beside her. She hated how much the staff blasts hurt. A bullet was damn near nothing compared to the pain she was currently in.

"Jaffa! Back away." Mike said as he stood there with one hand on the DHD and the other clenched into a fist.

"Silence, human." The Jaffa growled back at Mike, bringing his staff weapon up and leveling it at Mike.

Mike growled as he raised his hand and let lightning flow into the Jaffa from his hand.

Laying in the sand, Taryn did her best to turn onto her hands and knees so that she could stand up, growling when the pain spiked through her body and forced her back to the ground..

"Taryn!" Mike called.

"Get the gate open!" She ordered, placing a hand over her chest and wincing when she felt the blood from her wound.

"You don't look so good, Hun." Mike whispered.

Feeling a hand under her head, Taryn groaned and forced her eyes open to look up at Mike, unsure of when exactly she had closed her eyes.

"Stay with me." Mike said.

"Get the DHD open." She whispered. "We need...need to get everyone out of here..."

"If I leave you here like this Terri will never let me forget it." Mike said.

Taryn was about to answer when a staff blast nailed mike in the chest and sent him spiraling back into the sand. "Mike..."

"Ugh..." Mike groaned as he felt the energy of the blast course through him.

Reaching out towards her friend, Taryn growled when a Jaffa stepped in between them and leaned down. She wasn't exactly sure how he managed to throw her over his shoulder so easily, but the next thing she knew she was looking down at Mike.

"Taryn..." Mike whispered.

Watching her friend, Taryn groaned as everything started to go dark, until she finally passed out against the Jaffa's back as he walked away from mike.

"Taryn..." Mike whispered as his eyes closed.

Arriving on the surface, jack started to run as soon as the rings had gone back into the ground. He wasn't sure how many Jaffa and Tok'ra he was passing, only that Terri was calling as many Tok'ra as she could to follow them.

"Dad..." Terri whispered as she looked towards the stargate.

Looking in the direction his daughter had indicated, jack growled when he saw Mike laying in the sand with a staff blast wound on his chest. "Damn it..." He hissed, changing direction and heading towards Mike.

"Mike..." Terri whispered.

Sliding to his knees, jack came to a hard stop beside Mike and reached out to check his pulse. "Good boy." He whispered when he felt a faint pulse. "Terri you're going to have to watch our backs."

"I got it, Dad." Terri said as she picked a discarded Staff weapon off the ground.

Throwing his weapon onto his back, jack grabbed hold of Mike's arm and lifted him across his shoulders in a fireman's carry. "Let's get to the gate!" He instructed.

"Dad, what about Taryn?!" Terri asked. "She was with Mike."

"They've got more Jaffa coming, we can't hang around." He ordered "We'll have to hope everyone shows up back on base."

"I don't get it, why didn't Mike just absorb that staff energy..." Terri whispered.

"He may have been caught by surprise." Jack pointed out as he started to move. "Can't absorb what you don't see."

"Maybe." Terri whispered.

"We'll ask after he gets to the doctor." He said softly. "For now we need to focus on getting out of here."

Terri nodded as she started to head towards the DHD.

Holding Mike on his shoulders, Jack looked back towards where the Tok'ra base had been and frowned when he didn't see Sam and General Carter.

"They'll make it." Terri said.

"Just dial." He ordered. "We need to get everyone out of here."

Terri nodded as she started to punch in the symbols for Earth.

Moving up to Terri's side, jack watched as the gate opened in front of him "Everyone go!" He ordered as Terri typed in her code to the iris.

"What's the plan dad?" Terri asked. "If I let this gate close the Goul'd could dial in from off world."

"Make sure Sam and Jacob get through." He said softly. "And none of the Jaffa. I'll get Mike to medical."

"Thank you." Terri said.

"Just promise me one thing..." Jack whispered.

"I won't leave them behind." Terri promised.

Nodding his head, jack headed towards the gate and jumped through as staff blasts whizzed by his head.

"Go!" Terri yelled at the next group. "Please be ok, Mike..."

Feeling the familiar lurch of the ring transporters, Sam groaned as she looked around the desert while holding her dad up.

"Come on." She whispered, starting to walk while she supported him. "Let's get home."

"That would be a good thing." Jacob said.

Sam rolled her eyes at the sound of that and continued to move while she tried to avoid getting hit by staff blasts.

"Terri." Jacob said. "Aphrodite?"

"I don't know yet." Terri said. "Let's just get you though the gate, Sir."

"I can agree with that." Sam sighed softly.

Sitting beside Michael, jack rubbed a hand over his eyes and tried his best to stay away while John sat on the other side of the bed holding Mike's hand

"Dad..." Terri said as she walked into the infirmary still in her gear.

"Took you long enough." Jack sighed. "Did everyone make it through?"

"We're missing someone." Terri said.

"Who is it?" Jack asked, a little afraid of the answer.

"Taryn." Terri whispered.

Closing his eyes, Jack brought a hand up to his forehead and let out a weak sigh. "Of course..."

"She's out there somewhere." Terri whispered

"We're going to have to find her..." He whispered. "Did anyone get info on who attacked us?"

"It was a mixture of Jaffa from all the system lords." Terri sighed.

"The Tok'ra think they may have a lead." Terri said.

"I guess we'll have to have a meeting." He whispered, pushing himself to his feet carefully.

"Dad..." Terri said.

"Stay with Mike a bit." He said softly "He's still getting used to the symbiont plus he has a pretty bad injury on his chest."

"Is he going to be alright?" Terri asked.

"Doc says he'll be fine." He promised. "He just needs to be watched a while to make sure he heals."

Terri nodded as she took Mike's free hand.

Taryn's knees hit the hard floor while the Jaffa behind her held onto the back of her neck in order to keep her down. "Anyone want to tell me what exactly this is about?" She huffed. "I had plans tonight and they certainly didn't include beardy McLoser."

"And what were those plans, Taryn O'Neill?" Cronus asked as he walked into the room.

Taryn turned her head to see who had walked into the room, growling when she felt Athena's anger at the sight of Cronus.

"You and your family are highly known amongst the System Lords." Cronus said.

"Of course, we are." She huffed in annoyance. "I'm guessing that's why I got a personal meeting with the great ass hole?"

"I sense you have a symbiont within you." Cronus said.

Taryn clenched her jaw at the sound of that. "You're probably not going to like the answer to your next question."

"Who is it?" Cronus asked.

Closing her eyes, Taryn allowed Athena to surface while Cronos stood in front of her. "Your voice is as gravely and annoying as ever, my dear." Athena smirked.

"Athena, how did you escape my prison?" Cronus asked.

"Even your best traps cannot keep me locked away, though i'm sure you were already aware of that." She smirked

"Have you learned your lesson?" Cronus asked.

"I had a lesson to learn?" She smirked. "I was certain you simply grew board of me. You have always been picky."

"You betrayed me and helped my favorite slave escape." Cronus said.

"Your favorite slave was just that, a slave." Athena said simply. "No one deserves that treatment, even if you think it is luxury."

"It is my right as a god." Cronus said.

"We have to move the Tok'Ra to yet another new home." Garshaw was explaining when Terri entered the gate room.

"We'll I hope this time you pick a way better hiding place. Also, try not to let spies into your ranks again please." Jack sighed.

"Do you have to leave so soon?" Aphrodite asked as she walked up to Jacob/Sel'mac.

"We need to start our search for Athena." Sel'mac confirmed

"I hope you find her, for the sake of my host and for my sister's sake." Aphrodite said.

"We will do our best." Sel'mac confirmed

"It is a shame, we are kept apart now only because of who our hosts happen to be." Aphrodite said softly.

Sel'mac smiled at the sound of that. "Well, that is how things happen once in a while." He said softly

Aphrodite smiled as she reached up and touched Sel'Mac's face before she gently pressed her lips against his.

"Whoa!" Sam called out, taking a quick step forward and inserting herself between Sel'mac and Aphrodite. "Not ok!"

"Aphrodite, you can't just do that." Jack protested "Other than the fact that John is right here!?" Jack demanded, pointing at John who now had his hands slapped over his eyes. "Terri. Your host. Did she approve this move? Because i'm finding it hard to believe she did."

"She allowed me one kiss goodbye." Aphrodite said softly.

"Of course, she did." John huffed in annoyance.

"I have to endure her kissing those that I do not love but cannot kiss one that I do?" Aphrodite asked.

"That is not your body!" John snapped. "You took her body and you have already forced her to pretend to love a system lord. Now I have to watch you fawn over a guy over half your age!?"

"Age does not matter for the Tok'Ra." Aphrodite said.

"It is for us." He snapped. "That is my fiancée. I'm not going to pretend to be ok with this!"

"It is not as if it is Terri kissing him." Aphrodite said. "I am in control."

"God. Now I have to put up with two of you." He huffed, turning on his heel and walking out of the room

"I will see you soon, my love." Aphrodite said as she squeezed Sel'Mac's hand before letting Terri go after John. "John!"

"No!" John said sternly, rounding on Terri. "I do not want to hear it."

"John please." Terri said.

"I said I don't want to hear it Terri." He said sternly. "You do what you want, but I am not hanging around for that."

"John, they are in love." Terri said. "I can't stop that."

"I don't care if they're in love, this is not her body!" He said sternly. "This is you. This is my fiancée and seeing you kiss another man, especially one who's probably going to be like your grandfather in law, is creepy."

"Then you aren't the man I thought you were..." Terri whispered as she dropped his engagement ring to the ground before running down the hallway.

Looking down at the ring on the floor, John huffed angrily and leaned down to pick it up before proceeding on his way down the opposite side of the hallway.

Being led into a large room later that day, Athena frowned when she saw Cronos sitting in the middle of the room surrounded by some of his latest slaves. "I see you're as glutinous as ever." She commented, smirking when Cronos got to his feet." I hope you're hot expecting me to go away still Taryn is not yours to talk to." She said calmly.

"I was hoping we could catch up." Cronus said.

Watching him carefully, Athena winced when he reached out to cup her face.

"She is very beautiful, much deserving of you, but I sense I will like her other form better." Cronus said.

"You want me to what?" She frowned, hissing when he dug his nails into her neck. Doing as she was told, Athena allowed Taryn's powers to wash over her as she took the male form.

"I have always had a thing for the male of their species." Cronus said.

"You've also had a thing for gluttony and narcissism." Athena huffed in annoyance.

"An ally of mine wishes to get in contact with his queen." Cronus said. "From what I understand you can only communicate with her host in this form."

"You wanted me to take this form so I could... What exactly? Call my host's sister to your friends side?"

"Exactly." Cronus said.

"I will do no such thing." he growled, staring Cronos down as he stood up so that he was at eye level with him.

"I am your King and your god, and you will obey me." Cronus growled.

"You are not my king." She said angrily. "And you are certainly not a god."

"Silence!" Cronus yelled.

"Never." Athena growled defiantly, watching as Cronos stepped up into his space "though i must admit, you have never reacted like this. do you not like being told the truth from a man's perspective?" he smirked

"I said silence!" Cronus yelled.

Standing his ground, Athena watched carefully as Cronos wrapped a hand around his throat, almost as if he was going to strangle him.

"I will make you silent!" Cronus yelled.

Feeling a sharp pain, Athena closed his eyes and gasped as he was forced to allow Taryn to take control of their body so that they could can Cronos.

"Arg!" Cronus yelled.

"Ass hole." Taryn growled, taking his elbow back into the Jaffa who had attacked him and sending the man onto his ass.

"You will pay for this!" Cronus yelled.

Having Cronos grab hold of his wrist, Taryn turned around and brought his fist back, hissing when Cronos raised a hand and turned on his hand device. Feeling his consciousness slipping away, Taryn groaned and fell forward into Cronos' arms as he blacked out

"Take him to my room." Cronus ordered.

"Yes, My Lord." The Jaffa nodded, taking Taryn from his god and carrying him out of the room.

Terri cried into her pillow as she tried to forget about John. "Go away John!" She screamed as someone knocked on the door.

"Ummm, wrong name starting with a J." Jack said, popping his head past the open door to look at his daughter. "You ok?"

"No..." Terri sniffed. "What is it?"

"Mike's asking about you." He said softly. "He was expecting to see you when he woke up."

"I'll be there in a minute..." Terri said as she walked over to the mirror in the room and tried to wipe away her smeared eyeliner and mascara.

"You want to tell me why you're upset with John?" Jack asked calmly. "Because that seemed like a harsh reaction when I knocked."

"He's a jerk." Terri whispered. "It's not like I'd let Aphrodite have sex with General Carter. He should trust me more than that."

"Well to be fair, you did have sex with a system lord." He pointed out. "And carried his child till Aphrodite aborted it."

Terri cringed at that. "I didn't willingly have sex with Ba'al. He raped us, that's the real reason why we left."

"Ok, but you didn't tell John that." He pointed out calmly. "You didn't tell anyone that. You said you came here because the System lord sent an Ashrak after you."

"He sent the Ashrak after us." Terri whispered.

Jack groaned at the sound of that and rubbed a hand over his face. "The lying...not ok." he whispered.

"I didn't want you to worry." Terri whispered.

"You tell us the truth when something happens. We can't help you if you don't." He said softly.

"If I had told you it would have gone into a report for the NID to peruse all they damn well please." Terri whispered.

"True I guess..." Jack whispered "But still..."

"I want somethings to stay out of military files." Terri whispered.

"Just because you tell us doesn't mean it has to go in Military files." Jack reminded her "I kept Daniel being alive from everyone for a year I can handle keeping something less damaging to everyone else a secret. So long as I know I can help. Same with John and Mike."

"What's on your mind kiddo?" Jack asked softly.

"I'm afraid they won't love me anymore if they knew." Terri whispered.

"Well, that's just not correct at all." He said calmly.

"How do you know?" Terri whispered.

"Being raped doesn't make you any less lovable." He explained calmly. "It means someone violated you. Took control from you. That doesn't affect how they view you at all."

"I'm damaged goods." Terri whispered.

"You are not damaged goods." Jack said simply.

"Mike won't even sleep in the same bed as me." Terri whispered. "And as soon as John saw what was on my back he's been distant and cold."

"what's on your back?" He frowned, wondering what could possibly make John react in such a way.

"A slave marking." Terri whispered. "The symbol for the system lord you serve and a symbol of your planet's point of origin."

Jack sighed at the sound of that and brought a hand up to cover his eyes. "Terri...that..."

"What?" Terri whispered.

"sometimes people get distant and cold when they're upset. Sometimes they do it to people they're not upset at." He explained softly. "I can assure you, John is pissed. what he's not, is pissed at you."

"He has a funny way of showing it." Terri whispered.

"Most people do." Jack admitted

"What do I do, Dad?" Terri whispered. "He was so angry back there..."

"All you can really do is try to talk to him." Jack shrugged "there's no real secret or cheat code to this."

"And if he won't talk?" Terri asked.

"You make him listen." Jack said simply.

Feeling something being snapped around his neck, Taryn jetted up in his spot and grunted when Cronos pulled on the chain in his hand, forcing Taryn to get out of bed. It took him a minute to process what exactly was going on, and he was not impressed. "Chains a thing for you now?" He growled, attempting to dig his fingers under the collar around his neck.

"Get up." Cronus ordered.

Planting his feet in the ground, Taryn refused to move when Cronos tugged on the chain. "Are you kidding me right now? Not a chance." He growled.

"Come with me or I will make you." Cronus said.

"How do you plan on making me?" Taryn hissed back at him angrily

"Jaffa!" Cronus called, and a Jaffa came in with a Goul'd torture stick.

Glaring over at the Jaffa, Taryn yanked on his chain angrily only to have Cronos pull back, causing Taryn to stumble forward and fall to his hands and knees. "Fuck..." He growled under his breath, moving to get up only to feel a violent surge of pain running through his body, pulling a scream out of his lungs

"That's enough." Cronus said.

Feeling the pain subsiding, Taryn bowed his head as he tried to catch his breath.

"Are you ready to comply?" Cronus asked.

"go...to hell..." He growled angrily

"Again." Cronus commanded.

The pain returned with a vengeance, forcing Taryn to curl up into himself as it coursed through his body. This was going to be a long morning.

Sitting on his knees beside Cronos' throne, Taryn watched through heavy eyes as various Jaffa and Slaves approached Cronos, offering him gifts, information, and whatever else he pleased.

"Come closer." Cronus said.

Feeling a tug on his chain, Taryn clenched his jaw and glared up at Cronos in response.

"Tonight, the vial one who stole your body will be removed and placed back in her prison." Cronus said.

Taryn growled at the sound of that. "You're not removing her." he hissed, attempting to pull away only to have Cronos lean over and grab a fist full of his hair.

"I will do what I please." Cronus said.

Clenching his jaw, Taryn kept his mouth shut and waited for Cronos to release his hold on his hair and allow him to back up. "What good with removing her do?" he asked in annoyance. "I'm not going to become more obedient without her."

"I sentenced her to a life of eternal exile and that is what she is going to get." Cronus said.

"Can you switch places with her?" Taryn grumbled under his breath, grunting when Cronos pulled on his chain.

Terri walked into the infirmary in a tank top and jeans and she made her way to Mike's bed.

"Hey gorgeous." Mike smiled when he saw Terri walking over to him "That's a rare look. Not sticking around on base?"

"I was going to go out for a while." Terri said softly. "I need time away from this place."

"I didn't think this place was so bad." He smiled playfully

"Mike, they didn't have chicken so I got you spaghetti and meatballs." John said as he walked into the room with a tray in his hands. "I hope that..." He stopped in his tracks when he saw Terri standing beside Mike. "Oh..."

Terri looked up and sighed when she saw John turning around the moment he saw her. "John, please..."

"We're not talking about it." John huffed "I don't want to hear any more about how she just had to kiss him and how I need to get over that."

"You don't have to talk, you just have to listen." Terri said. "Please."

John clenched his teeth at the sound of that, not sure if he wanted to hear what Terri had to say but also not moving from his spot.

"I wouldn't have let Aphrodite sleep with him using my body." Terri said.

"I'm finding that really hard to believe considering you slept with a system lord." He huffed.

"I didn't willingly sleep with Ba'al and neither did Aphrodite." Terri said.

John's eyes went wide at the sound of that "What!?"

"He raped us both..." Terri whispered. "I would never betray you and Mike like that, John."

"Dear god...Terri..." John took a few long strides and stopped in front of Terri, cupping her face in his hand gently. "Why didn't you tell us that?"

"I was afraid you wouldn't love me anymore." Terri whispered. "I'm damaged goods."

"Never..." He whispered. "I was mad at the thought of you willingly sleeping with him in anyway? But this isn't willing. This is horrible, and you don't deserve that anger."

"He was mad because I wouldn't let Aphrodite do it." Terri whispered.

"That's not your fault." John whispered, pulling Terri into his arms and holding her close. "That's not your fault at all."

"I love you guys, I would never betray you like that." Terri whispered.

"I'm sorry..." John whispered "I should have realized something was up."

"It's alright..." Terri whispered.

"I should have been there for you." He whispered.

"You didn't even know the Stargate existed when I disappeared." Terri whispered.

"I know..." he whispered, holding her a little close "I'm sorry..."

"I wanted to come home and he wouldn't let me." Terri whispered. "I would have been home a lot sooner had I been allowed."

"You're home now, that's all that matters." John whispered.