Chapter 16- Human Concerns and Knowing an Enemy

Laura sat in Carter's lab with a book. Carter had said that if she wanted quiet she could use Carter's lab whenever Carter wasn't using it. So far, Carter was in the gate room, waiting out the Goa'uld attack on the iris. Behind the walls Laura still heard the muffled sounds of banging against the iris. Laura almost felt sorry for the Jaffa being flattened, but it beat the alternative of allowing them in and being killed first.

Laura closed her book and walked down the hallway to Hammond's office. Laura was dying to know what the general had in mind if the iris failed. Laura didn't think it would, but there was always a slim chance of it failing, right? Boy, am I turning into Dad! Laura thought with black humor.

"I can understand how Kawalsky feels. This job gives me a headache too," General Hammond said as Laura came into the office.

"Hi, Kiddo," Jack said, giving her a brief hug.

"Miss O'Neill," General Hammond greeted her.

"Hi, Dad, General. Have you come up with a plan if the iris fails?" Laura asked, seeing no point in beating around the bush.

"Not yet, Laura. I can call you Laura, can't I?" Hammond asked.

"Yeah. I don't remember my real name so you can call me Laura," Laura said with a brief grin.

"Uh-huh. What's the bad news, General?" Jack asked, bringing Hammond back to why Jack was in the office.

"Not much for small talk, are you, Colonel?" Hammond asked.

"How was your weekend? Get any fishing in?" Jack asked, causing Laura to snort.

"I'm rejecting yours and Laura's request to have Teal'C join SG-1. Wasn't my choice. Colonel Kennedy is en route from the Pentagon right now. He'll be asking your friend some questions and since he knows that Laura is descended from the enemy, he's going to question her too," Hammond said, causing Laura's blood to freeze.

"What? General, I've lived here as long as I could remember. If I was a threat, wouldn't I have turned on everyone a long time ago?" Laura asked stunned

"I know that, Laura, but you have the memory. They think you can help us," Hammond said, sounding compassionate.

"What kind of questions?" Jack asked, touching Laura's shoulder gently.

"What we're up against, troop strength, technology, weaponry," Hammond said.

"I'd like to know the answers to those questions too, Sir. But after they're done asking them-" Jack started to say.

"There's gonna be more questions. Possibly tests. After all, he's carrying the larval form of a hostile and very formidable enemy inside his body and Laura has the memory of that enemy," Hammond interrupted.

"What kind of tests are we talking about?" Jack asked, wrapping his arms around Laura's shoulders and hugging her tightly.

"Maybe you haven't noticed, Colonel, since you've had Laura for so long and she looks so very human, but Teal'C and Laura are the first alien species we've actually run into. You don't think that qualifies your friend and daughter as subjects of scientific interest?" Hammond asked, his voice revealing that his patience was running thin.

"Subjects?" Jack asked, raising his eyebrows. Laura knew by the vibe her father was giving that he was getting as annoyed with Hammond's attitude as Hammond was with his.

"They are what they are, Colonel," Hammond said with the proverbial shrug of his shoulders in his voice.

"With all due respect, Sir, I don't think he saved the lives of my team or came over to our side so he and my kid could become guinea pigs for U.S. military intelligence. And Laura is right. If she had wanted to destroy Earth like her snake ancestors, she would have long before now. Until she revealed that she knew what a staff weapon and a Jaffa was, she exhibited no alien behavior," Jack said, a pointed edge in his voice.

"Back up, Colonel. He switched sides once and we have no idea what kind of snake provides Laura's memory. Are you 100% positive he won't switch back and Laura won't turn when she's older?" Hammond asked skeptically.

"Yes, Sir," Jack said without hesitating.

"Well, you're alone in that assertion. Colonel Kennedy arrives within the hour. I promise Teal'C and Laura will be treated with dignity and respect for as long as they remain guests of this facility. Beyond that, I can't promise a thing. Dismissed, Colonel, Miss O'Neill," Hammond said and Jack nodded and Jack and Laura left the office.

"Dad, we're gonna have to tell him," Laura said quietly, meaning Teal'C and her father got her drift.

"I know. I am sorry what they plan to do to you, Laura," Jack said.

"I know, Dad. I guess I should have realized they were gonna pick my brain apart to find out what makes me tick and how much of me is the Goa'uld DNA. Maybe if they see I am as American as apple pie, they'll change their minds," Laura said as they made their way down the hall.

"I hope so," Jack said as they opened Teal'C's door. The Jaffa appeared to be meditating.

"Hey! Are we interrupting anything?" Laura asked.

"Yes," Teal'C said in a distracted voice.

"Why don't we come back?" Jack asked, indicating the door.

"The people from Chulak?" Teal'C asked, his back still to them.

"We sent the last of them back through the gate, just before the Goa'uld's started knocking on the door," Jack said.

"Good," Teal'C said.

"Well, thanks to you. So, how long do you think they'll keep it up?" Jack asked, changing the subject.

"One, perhaps two more attempts. They will believe their weapons have destroyed you. They will not send warriors through for some time, to make sure of your destruction," Teal'C said as he sat on his bed.

"Well, they'll be in for a surprise, huh?" Jack asked.

"Your iris will be closed. They will be crushed," Teal'C said, a hint of despair in his flat monotone.

"Surprise!" Jack exclaimed sarcastically, followed by an uncomfortable silence.

"Am I a prisoner?" Teal'C asked.

"Uh... yeah. You and Laura both," Jack said, looking everywhere in the room, but at Teal'C.

"I understand," Teal'C said.

"Teal'C, we're not exactly living up to your expectations of us, are we?" Laura asked as she and Jack sat down on chairs.

"See, Teal'C, we've been living alone in our little corner of the galaxy for quite awhile and I think the people I work for just need to get to know you and Laura a little better. I mean, you and Laura's knowledge of the Goa'uld's alone makes them a little curious," Jack said.

"Me and your Harcesis will give that knowledge freely," Teal'C said adamantly.

"Yeah, I know you both will. And we'll put it to good use," Jack said nodding.

"I will pledge my allegiance to this world," Teal'C said.

"I'm just not sure that's ever gonna be enough for them to trust you and my kid. To be honest with you, I think they're scared of the both of you," Jack said, squeezing Laura's knee gently in a show of fatherly comfort.

"I understand," Teal'C said flatly, looking off into a distance.

"You must be used to that by now, huh?" Laura asked. Teal'C turned to look at her.

"I am a Jaffa. I have served as a warrior for your enemy and maybe your ancestors, Harcesis. I have carried your enemy within me," Teal'C said roughly.

"Yeah. Well, that's kind of a human thing. We tend to be afraid of things we don't know," Jack said.

"Why is O'Neill and the Harcesis not afraid?" Teal'C asked.

"Teal'C, we saw you stand up to a god. You refused to kill. We saw you make that decision," Laura said with a brief smile.

"Yes," Teal'C agreed.

"In that moment, I learned everything I needed to know to trust you. Before I couldn't. You were a Jaffa and I felt like I was supposed to hate you, but you proved me wrong and I have never been so glad to be proven wrong," Laura said, reaching over and touching Teal'C's hand and giving it a squeeze.

"If I had killed you both then, I would not be here now," Teal'C said.

"Neither would we," Jack joked.

"I will prove my allegiance, O'Neill, Harcesis," Teal'C said.

"Teal'C, I sure wish you and Laura didn't have to," Jack said.

"When I do, you and the little one will show me this world," Teal'C stated.

"Oh, you bet. Just not all at once, though. It's big," Jack said clapping Teal'C on the shoulder before knocking on the door so he and Laura could go to their quarters.