I do not own anything. If you recognize it, it is not mine.
Thank you for your reviews.
Garibaldi69, I think it is important to remember that Jack earned his rank by some hard and serious work and there's been more than enough situations where we've seen how intimidating he can be – after members of SG-6 were killed in Red Sky, when he confronted Major Davis after Prometheus was taken and at the end of The Other side, just to name a few.
I didn't want to keep you waiting after the last chapter ended in a cliffhanger, however the writing has not been going well. Plus my laptop crashed and I lost a position paper I urgently needed. Pretty sure my teacher thinks that was just an excuse, anyway, I have about twenty hours to write it again, although I'd rather be spending more time on this :( .
Might edit this chapter in the future, but only minor cosmetic changes are a possibility.
Please write a review, they are my lifeline right now and I am very curious what you think.
Hope you are doing great!
"Teal'c, I-I… it's not the right time to talk about this." Laura wiped the tears away with the back of her hand before turning to face the Jaffa. She knew by this point her eyes would be fairly red, which she wouldn't be able to conceal, but it was the best she could do.
The chair squealed as she moved to have a better view of Teal'c. After the incident with O'Neill, Laura was in state of high alert. It was troublesome to see the Jaffa's large figure so close, his strong muscular hands by his sides, ready if need be.
"I do not agree with that statement. The state of the photograph suggest you had it long before you met us. Why? This is highly suspicious."
Laura considered standing up, but decided against it. She quickly put her beverage down, because her hands were shaking way too much. Trying to mask it, she then laid her hands on the table, locking her fingers together. "Please, don't make me tell you. It's nothing bad, I promise."
"I must insist."
Teal'c walked around the table to another chair and sat down, his stare cold as ice. He didn't say anything else, he didn't have to. Laura knew there was no way she could talk her way out of this one with antagonizing him. And her strained relationship with O'Neill made her desperate to avoid another angry blow-out.
"I can't…" Her voice trailed off, as she dropped her head into her hands and sighed, gathering her courage to continue. "You probably know this ship once belonged to an Asgard named Balder."
"Daniel Jackson told me." Teal'c's eyes were fixed firmly at Laura as she spoke.
"Yes. Well, Balder's research focused on solving the degradation associated with repeated cloning."
"Daniel Jackson did tell me that as well."
"Right." Laura bit her lip, realizing she was fighting tooth and nail to postpone any meaningful conversation. She saw it wasn't going to work by the look on Teal'c's face. "So… One of the most promising strategies turned out to be using human DNA, preferably in sequences with the Ancient gene and other more advanced characteristics."
"Are you saying the Asgard tried to genetically engineer a human, whose genetic code they could harvest to build new bodies?"
"In a way." Laura swallowed visibly, deep lines appearing on her forehead as she frowned in anxiety. "Of course one of the best candidates for this experiment would be someone more evolved whose DNA they already had available."
"It was my understanding that O'Neill's genetic code was safeguarded against these kind of manipulations." Teal'c said, his voice impersonal and rather reserved.
"Yes, that's true. However these safeguards were primarily meant to prevent cloning. So if you refrained from using cloning or artificial aging, there could be a viable offspring."
"Are you saying that O'Neill's genetic material was used to create a child?"
"Obviously not just his, but yes." Laura's fright was reaching new heights with the unfriendly looks Teal'c was giving her. She was very aware of the moisture in her eyes, but knew she couldn't stop herself from crying. "And I am that child."
"You are O'Neill's daughter?" Teal'c's eyebrows shot up higher than Laura ever remember it seeing.
She nodded, still apprehensive about the Jaffa's reaction. She was telling the truth and she didn't have any reason to lie, at least none that she could think of, but the SGC personnel proved to be an irrational factor in this relationship.
"Why hasn't he been told?"
"Because things were moving so fast, with all the injured and Sam having amnesia and having nightmares all the time. As I said, it's not a good time right now." Laura could tell by Teal'c's expression her arguments were not working on him. But he didn't know about her altercation with O'Neill. Now was not the time to tell him who she was.
"He has a right to know."
"Agreed. And I plan on telling him eventually, but with the weird way he's been acting lately, I wonder how he'd take it."
"He needs to be told." Teal'c repeated stubbornly.
"Teal'c, I am telling you something is going on with him. He needs some time."
"I do not believe that to be true."
Laura sighed, rolling her eyes. "Which part? That something is going on with him or that he needs time?"
"Waiting will only make matters worse."
"No, you're wrong. Couple of minutes ago he almost bit my head off for no apparent reason."
"If you do not tell him, I will be forced to."
She flinched at his harsh tone, her pupils widened in surprise. "Teal'c, please. He's probably sleeping anyway."
"I do not suggest telling him right now, but you should tell him tomorrow without any unnecessary delay."
"Teal'c, it is not a good idea." Laura insisted, staring intently at her clasped hands. She didn't want Teal'c to see her tears.
"Do you not think he will be very happy to hear it?"
"I don't know."