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Chapter 1: Deceit

Part 2

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Eight Months Earlier

Sam swallowed hard as she packed away the last of her photographs, unwilling to close the box, as if in doing so she would be closing all final vestiges of hope. The smiling faces before her were taunting her with happiness, something she feared never to feel again, just as she feared she would never see his face again.

A single tear made a path down her cheek, sliding gently over the newly formed scar, tickling the skin around it. But she didn't dare to move, didn't dare to allow herself more grief than this. She felt as though the only happiness she had ever felt was being locked away in the box before her, a memory trapped in time and Kodak. A face trapped, never to be seen again.

Closing the box quickly, fearing that if she didn't do it now, she never would, she taped it shut, every small gap covered, every tear pieced back together. No other happiness to go in and nothing she would ever allow to be set free again. Her heart was dead and she felt she would forever be devoid of happiness.

A tap at the door stirred her from her place on the ground. She stood slowly, her shaky legs threatening to collapse at the sudden movement, and, placing the box against the far wall, she moved to the door.

"Samant'a?" She opened the door and smiled sadly at the girl before her, silently inviting her into the house. Closing the door with a definite click, she paused a moment before turning back in to face the room.

"What...what have you done?" Anna turned around the room in disbelief, her eyes taking in the desolate picture. The once beautiful home, filled with memories, was now barren of emotion, decorated only by a scattering of ornaments and many darkened rectangles on the wallpaper. She surveyed the scene, turning slowly around the room, before her eyes rested on the box in the corner. It had been covered in tape, almost every inch greyed with it, an almost empty roll sitting next to the plastic it had been bought in.

"I refuse to live in the past anymore, Anna. I'm moving on." Sam said quietly but steadily, as she moved into the room and picked up the box. She began the climb the stairs to the spare room, preparing to lock the box away in the cupboard.

"Samant'a, this is not moving on, this is shutting out. You can not expect to go on wit' life if you can not accept the past."

"Is that what everyone's telling you Anna? Is that what they're saying? That you have to accept it? Well, I do accept it, and that's why I'm getting it out of the way. I will not allow my child to grow up with a reminder of what she lost everywhere she turns. I will not let her live with a mother who is living in false hope...I will not...I won't...I won't cry... I have to let him go...and I...I can't..."

Her knees gave way at the top of the stairs and, placing the box on the floor, she finally allowed herself to grieve.

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A month before Daniel's return
P7X-990 - The Moon Ilhiyo

The moon was an endless dream of trees, multiple colours fading onto a pinking sky that caused a faint glow to decorate the outline of the distant mountainous region. The outline of the planet that began creeping slowly into view, threatened to cut out all light.

In an area of turquoise trees, there lay an abandoned hut, covered in purple moss, an overgrowing natural residence that seemed, to the untrained eye, abandoned many turns ago. But to those who looked closely, there was an air of homeliness about it, something lived in.

Jack surveyed the scene before him, hating every inch of the landscape, as he had done since his arrival. The small hut that, from the outside, looked derelict and overgrown, seemed more cramped with every passing day, regardless of the constant digging of extra tunnels and rooms. He had never thought himself too claustrophobic as would cause him to panic, but he had reached that stage over the last eleven months, two weeks, three days, fifteen hours...not that he was counting.

He turned the small periscope style viewer to face the trees to his left. Nothing in particular seemed out of sorts, only that it was. He wasn't sure what caused him to think this, but, somehow, he knew that there was trouble coming, something in his gut told him. Perhaps he was simply being pessimistic, unable to believe that in about two weeks he'd be able to go home. That he'd be able to look at his friends and family again...that he'd, more than likely, end up with one hell of a shiner from his previous 2IC.

SG1. It had been a long time since he'd allowed his thoughts to travel to SG1. He remembered the beginning, remembered every small detail of how that special group had formed, of how each and every member had become his family. And not only them, but General Hammond as well. The last words of his CO echoed in his mind every now and again, *Stay safe, son. The last thing I want is to hand this facility over to some brown nosed, stuffed shirt General who doesn't care a damn about the Stargate or it's personnel. I want to assure you that I will be resigning upon your return, and I want you to make damn sure you're here to accept the position.*

Jack smiled at the memory. When the General had informed him that he wouldn't be rejoining SG1 upon his return, he thought for sure that the Military were planning on forcing him into another retirement...his third, he thought wryly. Instead, he was informed of, not only the above, but that Sam was being promoted soon, and would remain in charge of SG1 on a permanent basis. The new SG1. Two members short, two newbies. Not that Simmons could be called a newbie to the program, but definitely to the field. As for Anna, well, she knew exactly what she was doing. She always had.

Anna and Sam. Now there were two people he was looking forward to seeing...but at the same time, dreading the imminent look of betrayal on their faces. He had lied to them. Okay, so he personally hadn't done it. But he had allowed other people to lie for him. He had allowed General Hammond to tell his wife and his best friend that he was dead...that he an Daniel were both dead. That was not something that was easily forgiven, perhaps, he thought with a great deal of pain, never forgiven.

A sudden movement in the trees to his left, had him in no doubt of his earlier suspicions. They were not alone. Trouble was coming...and unfortunately, he had been so lost in his thoughts, he wasn't ready...no one was.

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Daniel sighed as he walked back towards the camp. How he had ever agreed to this, he didn't know. His expertise as an archaeologist weren't required on this mission, and, since most of the Thorians present now had a pretty good grasp on the English language, he was no longer really required as a linguist either.

Arinna suddenly grabbed hold of his jacket, keeping herself steady after almost tripping on an upturned tree root. He smiled at her and removed her hands from his sleeve, steadying her, but removing all contact as soon as he could. The moment that she had got the message that Jack wasn't interested in her, she had moved on to Daniel. It didn't seem to matter how many times he reminded her what the gold bands on both men's fingers meant, she disregarded all information that she did not want to hear. As was evident from the near disaster that had almost occurred the previous month.

Arinna was a brilliant scientist, Daniel was in no doubt of that, and neither was anyone else on the project. She was, however, a little too hasty in disregarding any information that she deemed unnecessary and pointless to explore further. If her colleague, Masred, had not been nearby to stop her impromptu test quickly, not only would they have all been killed, but also the moon itself could have been destroyed. Not an entirely pleasing prospect to either themselves, or the many other people that the disaster would no doubt have affected. That, accompanied with her complete disregard for both Jack and Daniel's wedding vows did not entice either man to her.

His wife. How could he possibly face her after what had happened. He, like Jack, had refused to watch through the 'mirror' that had been offered to them. How could anyone have thought that they would willingly watch General Hammond, a man who loved all of them like his own children, tell Sam and Anna that their husbands were dead. The image that thought conjured brought tears to his eyes as he thought of the woman that he loved crying for him, inconsolable and in pain because of a lie. He knew that she would likely think it a lie to begin with, that she would not allow herself to grieve until it all became too much. Had she shut all memory of him out of her life? Would she wish to do the same to him upon his return?

A blast of fire jerked Daniel out of the thought that so often invaded his mind, and back to the present. The small group around him scattered to the trees, dividing into the smaller groups that had been prearranged in the event of attack. Daniel led his group stealthily through the trees, almost unable to believe it himself that he was so competent in acting the soldier now.

Having already pulled his pistol from his side, he held it firmly in both hands, no slight of nervousness about him, no possible opening for error on his own behalf. Stopping suddenly at a movement in the trees, he gestured the two men behind him to fall back, both of them awkwardly complying. He crouched down, moving slowly but steadily towards his target, only to pause as he heard his name whispered. Turning, he looked at the two men behind him, noting the look of terror on both their faces, idly wondering if his had ever held that same look. His mind answered with Jack's voice, "frequently".

Confident that neither of the two men had spoken, he cautiously crept forward, putting the voice down to a combination of the wind and his mind. That was, until he heard it again, this time slightly louder. Recognising the voice as one of the scientists on the program, he moved cautiously closer, unsure as to whether or not it was a trap.

Peeking through the trees, he noted with satisfaction that the only person visible was Likna, the young brains behind the entire operation. Unfortunately, the next thought was, of course, that Likna was a part of Jack's group, and if he were here alone, then where were Jack, Feretti and Kahnar.

Convinced that the man was, not only alone, but terrified, Daniel replied softly, making his presence known. Signalling that Likna should make sure he was safe to join him, Daniel fell back slightly, making sure that no one was nearby. The sudden rustle of the trees next to him had him on guard and training his weapon instantly, but was quickly relieved to find that it was only Likna.

Nodding his head for the man to follow, they made their way back to the other two Thorians, who were still crouching under a large leaf in fear. On seeing Daniel return, they looked pleased, for about three seconds before their eyes widened in horror. Turning instantly, Daniel dropped his gun to the ground. Likna was grinning at him, his gun pointed at the archaeologist's head, his eyes glowing yellow with arrogance and deceit.

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END DECEIT: PART 2

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