Authors note: no plagiarism intended, as I feel that fan fiction is the ultimate tribute to a program.
Stargate, SG1 and all original characters belong to MGM.
Charisma, on the other hand, is a character that I use a lot and develop to the plot…As to the question as to who she's based on, let's just say I'm about the same height, hair colouring and eye colour (if I'm in my contact lenses) but not build anymore as at present, I'm expecting my second child…
It's immortality of another kind!
Extra note: I've not finished this yet and I'll fill in the patches as I go so I apologise for any inconveniences…. I don't write necessarily in order. I write as I figure it all out and I fill in the gaps afterwards…it's kind of like reading the most exiting bits first…sort of. Once the chapter is finalised, I will say so in the preview. If this feels suspiciously like beta reading as one reviewer has said, I apologise, but I want to get it up and out there while I have the nerve.
PrologueIt was the middle of summer: the exact middle that was. Daniel was highly strung, but he couldn't figure out why.
He was meeting with old friends for a meal off base tonight, but he didn't think it was going to be such a trial. He and Michael were very close, and Michael's research fellow, Charisma, was the granddaughter of his Professor at college, all those years ago. It was going to be hard to reconcile the chubby primary-school child of a distant past with the woman she had - seemingly - become.
Sam and Jack were also coming off base, as company in part, but also because they wanted a bit of a break.
"Do you know much about her?" Sam asked, as they drove in the jeep down into the town nearby.
"She was a little girl when I met her. Maybe 7 or 8…a bit older possibly. Her grandfather was my lecturer at University: he was on a year's tenure at the University, and had her with him. She was…. sweet, and such a kind little girl. I've kept in touch with her and her grandfather for years: she and I have been in touch a few times since he died, but…. it's strange that she's on one of the project teams going off world."
Sam laughed. "I take it you never saw her at the funeral?"
"I never got to attend. I was on a mission with you lot when he died, " he smiled ruefully.
It was an expensive, but very pretty restaurant. Daniel recognised them both at once: Michael was facing the door at the table, whilst Charisma had her back to them. Jack and Sam felt positively underdressed: both had opted for smart-casual trouser suits. As Daniel approached, the woman stood, and walked the few paces to them before throwing her arms around Daniel.
"She's an 'ouch'" Jack muttered appreciatively, whilst Daniel returned the hug, and then drew back to arms length to examine her. She was wearing an exquisite black dress, floor length but split to the thigh on either side. The shimmering material caressed her every curve, and allowed the spill of curly red hair on one shoulder to show with luminosity even Sam had to envy for a minute.
Two huge blue eyes peered out from a delicately made up face that would be almost plain if it weren't for the genuine, open smile she wore. The rest of her hair was piled and pinned with an artful carelessness that only people with long hair can achieve.
Daniel thought she was breathtaking.
"Were you expecting the little girl, Daniel?" she lilted, her English-Scots accent containing a measure of laughter, before continuing, "Or are we still over fond of food?"
Daniel smiled softly, jaw working, then shook hands with Michael, then, remembering his manners, proceeded to introduce everyone.
"Colonel Jack O'Neil, Major Samantha Carter, this is Professor Michael Edwards and Charisma Elgin."
As greetings were exchanged all round, Charisma added, "I prefer Kara," she laughed.
"Sam nodded enthusiastically, "I'm Sam,"
"I'm Jack!" Jack grinned, pulling the seat back for Sam, then Kara. Daniel sank into his seat, slightly dazed.
The meal was excellent: Sam had not expected the Chinese eatery to be 'much' as it had just opened and seemed surprisingly inexpensive, but she savoured every mouthful, and every bit of conversation was as lively and delicious as the last. Daniel managed to keep up with the conversation, but his gaze kept stealing back to Kara at every opportunity.
Kara seemed oblivious, although the few glances Sam caught that was a mutual exchange of gazes seemed more charged than any she remembered seeing Daniel indulge in.
Eventually, Sam said, "You're coming to the base tomorrow, aren't you?"
Michael nodded. "Got some research that your General wants to see, and possibly continue." he said evasively.
Kara smiled softly, "I wish I was back home. They have such a nice time tonight."
"Tonight?" Jack echoed and Sam laughed.
"Midsummer night right? One of two nights you are guaranteed to see fairies and the like. I used to celebrated that as a very young child."
"It's not for that, specifically. I just use it as my opportunity to make my peace with everything for another year. And I like being out on the shortest night of the year…. Remember the party Papa had for your class?" she ended, laughing at Daniel, then proceeded to recount how Daniel had got so falling down drunk he's ended up sleeping under the oak tree and had woken up tied to the tree with a multitude of ribbons.
Everyone had denied knowledge.
"I was sure it was you," Daniel said. "I kept your rainbow ribbon…it's in my quarters somewhere."
"I know, you use it as a bookmark," Kara laughed. "Papa told me just before he passed away,"
Jack butted in suddenly, "It's funny, you know Kara, and he never mentioned much about you. He used to talk about a brave little red-head, but never told me her name," Jack said, "Is it possible that she was you?"
She shook her head softly, "That would be my older sister, and Chaz …She was about ten years older than me. Daniel had a huge crush on her, I think," she added, smiling impudently.
Daniel choked a little then smiled, "She was…. unique. It made you all the harder to keep track of…."
"Was?" Sam questioned. "She mediocre now or something? Changed track and settled down into a life of non-exciting ness?"
"Dead." Kara said flatly. "She was killed in a car wreck with Michael and Daniel's roommate. I'm the only one left of my whole family: we seemed to be dogged by bad luck. It's like there's a banshee on our case or something," she finished, with a slight shudder.
"Let me guess, your field of expertise is…Celtic mythology?" Jack grunted.
Kara laughed, "Not into all that dry stuff, I'm afraid. I'm an astro and quantum physicist. I'm also a fair linguist, but that was Papa. I don't have a degree in that… yet."
"And you're how old?"
"Twenty three," she supplied, smiling.
Michael whispered something to her and she nodded, and then said, "Suit yourself. I'll meet you in the morning in the lobby" Michael made his excuses, saying he felt a little nauseous and tired, and left. She winked at them, watching as he left.
"He's in a bit of a huff, if you really want to know," Kara laughed softly. "I turned him down again tonight,"
Daniel choked slightly then said, "He's not still on that old track is he…" Kara nodded, then noting Sam's confusion, added, "Daniel chased my sister, Michael had and still has a thing for me…God knows why, I'm not much to look at, " she added, in such a tone that Sam instantly realised she was a very shy woman trapped in a body she wasn't at ease with (something she could relate to sometimes), "He picked this for me, you know…I prefer jeans and a t-shirt…or I'd die for a suit like yours…" she said, nodding at Sam. Jack laughed.
"We thought something was wrong…we thought we were underdressed,"
Kara giggled. "I'm overdressed. He thinks of me as a showpiece sometimes, even though I'm no-one's…Someone stole my heart a long time ago and never looked twice…" She added, smiling wistfully, then shook her head.
"Is there anything else around here to do?" she asked. Sam shook her head, and Kara sighed.
"If you weren't in that, I could take you into the woods at the back of the base…. There's a fabulous view from one of the clearings." Daniel said, smiling. Sam and Jack exchanged glances.
"I can change…What about it guys?"
Sam and Jack both shook their heads, and said "Paperwork" at exactly the same time, and Kara's face fell.
"I'll walk you back to the hotel though," Sam said.
Kara smiled shyly at Sam as she re-emerged from the bathroom, all traces of the sophisticated woman vanished.
"Do you like the dress?" she asked. Sam nodded, and Kara tossed it to her.
Sam frowned, then said, "I'd never…"
"I'm going off world for at least a year. Think of it as an extended loan…. I might even forget…or he might," she added, jerking her head in the direction of the room next door. And I'm sure Jack's eyes would light up even more to see you in it," she added, smiling.
"Eh?" Sam asked, startled. Kara shook her head, laughing softly, and then unpinned her hair. "Love is blind child, but innocence is blinder," she chastised and Sam laughed. Clean skinned and hair down she looked like an elfin princess: hair flowing to the waistband of her jeans as she brushed it out, then deftly plaited it into a thick braid before repining it into a loose bun.
"Ready," she smiled
Sam said, "I think I'm going to really like you little one,"
Daniel and Jack were fidgeting beside the jeep as they bounded out into the night. Kara seemed a lot more at ease and deftly leapt into the back seat with a grace that even Jack had rarely seen, other than in Sam. Daniel climbed in more soberly, smiling shyly. Jack laughed softly and said, "If we drop you off at the top of the hill, you can hike from there right?"
Daniel nodded, "Yeah, that's perfect. I'll be back on base by morning."
"So what are you going off world for?" Daniel asked quietly as they wove up the mountain road.
"Michael is going to research the archaeological significance of world 675 and I'm in the middle of researching the something of possible major importance.... I'm sure I've got it, but there are some tablets and stuff that I want to make sure that are authentic...there's stuff in them that could prove of disprove my whole theory" she smiled.
"Wanna share?" Daniel asked.
"I'm briefing SG1 in the morning dear heart. Your General Hammond was rather emphatic that I didn't share..." Daniel nodded, and she continued, "I'm off world for a year, and then I should have proved my theories by then: and I hope it'll give some people a chance to solve...." she stopped and smiled, "It's one of those obvious, in front of your eyes things, Daniel. And I'm amazed it hasn't occurred to you...."
Daniel smiled at her mysteriousness with a curbed curiosity that he knew was best to employ with Kara. Pushing her was a bad idea and what was worse was to try and prise something out of her that she didn't want anyone to know.
So instead he just enjoyed her company and the hike: Kara didn't seem bothered that it was quite strenuous and steep: in places she deftly scrambled up a slope ahead of Daniel, giving him a good view of her gorgeously formed, jean clad legs.
Peeking through the tree boughs, there was the occasional glimpse of a beautiful clear night and a full moon: Daniel fleetingly thought that there was little more romantic than a moonlight hike, and Kara obviously agreed.
"I missed you, you know," she said, halfway to the glade, as Daniel gestured for her to sit against a tree. The moonlight illuminated her eyes: they shone brightly, with an incandescent intensity that let Daniel see exactly what she was thinking.
"I know…."Daniel said. "I missed you too, but…."
"Here comes the but…there's always a but…." She growled, slightly crestfallen.
"But…. Why?" Daniel asked, confused.
Kara shrugged, looking away, so Daniel crouched down in front of her. "I've always thought of you as my sister, but…. God, Kara…." He muttered, then grabbed her chin gently and pulled her face back around, gently. He looked deep into her eyes and the kissed her.
It wasn't a chaste kiss: hesitance quickly melted and rapidly became very passionate, searing both their souls. Daniel pulled back first, after a brief period of just resting his forehead on hers.
His hand caressed the back of hers, lightly drawing Egyptian Hieroglyphs onto her skin in firefly traces.
"Your place or mine?" she breathed lightly. Daniel's heart skipped a beat.
"Mine………….
Daniel woke in the very early hours of the morning with his arms wrapped around a body.
"Shaouri" he murmured.
The body briefly shuddered, stiffened, and then mumbled, "No dearest," Daniel had already drifted back to sleep. Kara on the other hand, was now wide-awake, and aware for the first time, what she had done.
Gently, she disentangled herself from his arms and sat up on the edge of the bed. Daniel's spartan flat was kept immaculate: mainly due to the fact it was minimalist, though Kara doubted it was through choice. She had seen boxes and bags of stuff scattered throughout the house: little of which she assumed were clothes.
She fully intended to leave: she was already sitting up. All she needed to do was gather her clothes and get out. Tomorrow would be awkward, but…. she realised that a relationship with Daniel would be impossible.
He loved Shaouri.
Just then, Daniel stirred, and opened his eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked, sounding bewildered and lost, Shau…. Kara, come back to bed."
So she did.
When Daniel awoke again, it was morning, but the reassuring presence of the sweet feminine body that had been cuddled into his chest most of the night was gone. A few errant red hairs still clung to his pillow though, and Daniel realised exactly what had happened last night.
Several times.
Distantly, he could hear the gentle patter of water, and could smell fresh coffee, but for just a minute he lay still and contemplated what had happened last night. And how to tell Kara how he felt.
Put simply, it was a mistake to get involved with anyone remotely linked to the Star-gate project, although he dimly suspected that Jack was fonder of Sam than he let on at times. And to complicate things further, even before he hit the question of the fact he was still married, Daniel knew that Kara would be committing professional suicide if she stayed to continue the relationship.
And Daniel knew that was what Kara wanted, from the moment she had said that 'someone else stole my heart' in the restaurant.
Daniel was beginning to understand how that felt all over again. Groaning to himself he sat up , then swining his legs off the bed, he began to hunt for his underwear, shuddering as he came across Karas.
They were ripped…ruined.
