Daniel and Teal'c saw Jack come into the room hidden inside the hill. Daniel had put his P90, backpack and books on the floor. Some books were opened, Daniel was using them to find a way to decipher the symbols, with the help of local tablets that were lying on a fabric and on the floor, next to the books. Teal'c was studying the console panel of a table, in the center of the room, near Daniel. He had left his P90 on the floor, too. Faron was assisting the warrior. The man with the scarf was sitting on the table, holding a tablet computer. A wire was connecting the tablet to some crystals inside the base of the pillar supporting the console panel. The explorers had discovered a chink on the column and had opened it.
Jack asked the man with the glasses, "How's the translation going, Daniel?"
"I'm afraid I'm not making progress, Jack." Daniel acknowledged, putting the tablet he was holding back onto the fabric. "Thanks to Faron and the tablets he could retrieve from temples - Daniel pointed out the tablets - I could identify words to start with. Among them, those meaning past, present, reflection, and battle.". Jackson directed his right hand to a set of symbols next to him, to add, "There's also meat, but I'm not sure what it means in the context of this room."
"Maybe this place was just a dining room?" Jack naively suggested.
Daniel looked at Jack. It couldn't be that simple. "I'd better go back to work." the archeologist declared before he took a book and opened it.
Jack approached Faron. He queried, his index indicating the table, "Is it safe to sit on this?"
"I've done it a couple of times, General O'Neill. Nothing has ever happened. Mister Teal'c has tried also, and nothing happened."
Teal'c stayed still, meaning Faron could be trusted.
Jack raised his eyebrows, having no other safety concern. He questioned instead, "Any idea about what it is, Teal'c?"
"Daniel Jackson, Faron, and I haven't been able to switch on this device yet, O'Neill. I think there is a mechanism for that purpose, we're still trying to understand it. Daniel Jackson's findings will certainly be helpful."
Faron stood up, to say, "I'm sorry gentlemen, I have to go, to prepare the banquet. I'll see you there."
Faron handed the tablet to Teal'c, who bowed his head. Daniel thanked Faron for his time. Jack seated onto the table when the Enderer was gone and laid his P90 on it, on his right. The table wasn't as thick as he thought. The glass-like surface was surprisingly comfortable. Jack looked around without being really interested in what he was seeing. Daniel came on Teal'c's left in the meantime, to scrutinize the console panel, with a tablet in the hands. The archeologist and the former prime had a foot in the circle facing the base of the console.
Daniel realized Jack shouldn't be here. "Jack, aren't you supposed to be discussing with the leaders of the province, with Bradley, Mitchell, and Vala?"
"I was. Then, they invited us to visit farms. I said I had to help you."
Daniel and Teal'c frowned, suspicious.
Jack justified his lie, "They already have the rest of SG1 and Bradley, that should be enough.". The general paused, then, resumed, "Bradley's been doing a good job with the Enderers. She's smart."
Teal'c and Jackson nodded. Jack took off his cap and energetically stroke his hair with the right hand. He glimpsed the side of the table that was touching the pillar. He shrugged and moved the P90 to his left, to lie on the glass-like surface. His eyes focused on an invisible point at the ceiling, while his hands were gripping the cap above his chest.
Less than a minute later, Jack sighed and confessed, "I miss her."
Daniel and Teal'c lifted up their head, caught off guard by this sudden confession.
Jack began to play with his cap. He shared another feeling, "Sometimes I wish she didn't accept the job in Atlantis. I wish she was with me in Washington."
The general returned to his initial position, seated on the table. He played with his cap again and glanced at his shoes, to kill time.
Vala was right.
The man was sad, even a bit depressed, as Daniel and Teal'c could tell right now. The perspective of being on a new planet didn't seem to affect him, either in a positive or negative way. He was just indifferent. Moreover, he hadn't made jokes since Landry revealed Sam couldn't come.
Conclusion: Jack was clearly in a bad mood. Daniel and Teal'c had never seen him like this, except when Sam was MIA or when she was presumed to be brain dead after being taken over by an alien entity.
The man with the glasses and the Jaffa were sad for their friend.
O'Neill slightly turned his head on the right, to suggest, looking at a wall, "Maybe I could make her come back permanently?"
Jack completely turned to his fellows, as if he was asking for their opinion. Teal'c tilted his head and raised his eyebrow. Daniel made a face that had the same meaning as Teal'c's reaction: using a secret plan to make Sam leave Atlantis wasn't wise at all.
The general seemed to be ashamed, seeing Daniel and Teal'c gazing at him. He tried to explain the origin of his strange idea. "I know I encouraged her and that's very good for her, she's the perfect candidate for the position. I didn't realize how difficult it could be... Seeing each other from time to time... Last time was two months ago.". Jack paused, glimpsed his cap, and continued, "If she can come once her situation in Atlantis is over, I'm not sure I'll be there for I have other trips planned. Maybe she won't have much time as well. In the end, we'll have to wait many more weeks to spend a reasonable amount of time together.". Jack sighed, looking at the floor, and concluded, "That sucks, guys."
Teal'c submitted an alternative, "Why can't you go to Atlantis, O'Neill?"
"I could, but not before some time. Besides, I would have to justify my visit." the general responded, turning to Teal'c and Daniel.
Teal'c tilted his head, understanding General O'Neill couldn't take advantage of his position to travel back and forth.
Daniel put the tablet on the console panel and said, "You've already been through this when you were in Washington, and Sam, in Colorado Springs."
"That was different, Daniel. We could see each other when we wanted. All we had to do was to take a plane."
"Does she know?"
"Know what, Daniel?"
"You're missing her."
"I don't want her to worry about me. She already has a lot to worry about over there."
"You know, Jack, sometimes you need to say things." Daniel told Jack, his left hand sliding on the tablet.
"Will it change anything?"
Daniel thought. He replied, still the hand moving on the tablet, "Honestly, Jack, I can't tell. What I can tell, and I'm convinced about it, is that wherever you'll be, you'll always find your way back to each other."
Teal'c bent his head, agreeing with Daniel.
Jack remained silent, not knowing what to say about that. He asked his friends instead, "Have you ever had any regret about this?"
Daniel and Teal'c stared at Jack, astonished.
The Head of Homeworld Command detailed, still looking at the two men, "About doing this, stepping through the stargate. Have you ever thought about doing something else, or about what could have happened if you hadn't been part of this?"
Teal'c and Daniel thought.
The Jaffa answered first, with conviction, "I would certainly have remained Apophis's first prime. I wouldn't have met the Tau'ri. You, O'Neill, Daniel Jackson, and Colonel Carter. You accepted me as a friend despite my background and helped my people. Rya'c, Bra'tac, and all my brothers and sisters would certainly still be the slaves of the Goa'ulds. Our fight for freedom has come with many sacrifices. Rya'c has grown up without me and has lost his mother. Nevertheless, he has become a great warrior, a good man, and a happy husband sharing his freedom with his wife. His children will have the chance to grow up free. Therefore, I have no regrets, O'Neill. If I had to do this again, I would do it again with no hesitation."
Teal'c turned to Daniel, who took over, "Well, if I didn't accept Catherine's offer, I wouldn't have met Sha're. I don't know where I would be right now, and how I would be doing. Maybe Sha're wouldn't be doing well, too. Nobody can tell. Losing my wife the way I lost her is a tragedy I wish nobody would ever go through.". Daniel made a short pause, to find other arguments, and said, with a positive tone, "I prefer to remember the love and the precious moments we've shared, even if they didn't last very long. I prefer to believe that we've helped people, that we've learnt so much about us, life, the universe, and that we've been through an incredible journey, Jack."
Teal'c added, "What happened happened. We have to accept that and move on the best way we can."
Daniel nodded. Jack looked at his cap and feet, lost in his reflection. Daniel and Teal'c resumed their investigation of the console. The general heard the archeologist mutter something like "That's interesting", but he didn't pay attention to it. He sensed a flash of lightning, but he didn't pay attention to it. He eventually glanced at his watch.
"At what time is the banquet?" O'Neill finally asked Jackson and Teal'c, as a conclusion to their man to man discussion.