TITLE: Hey Danny boy where are you off to?
AUTHOR: Sanny
STATUS: Debatable
RATING: PG-15
SPOILERS: None
DISCLAMER: I do not own SG-1, though I wish I had, this story is for
enjoyment purposes only, no money was exchanged, the Stargate characters
are owned by MGM, GEKKO and ShowTime, any other characters and the story
belong to the author.
AUTHOR NOTES: Please read and review
Chapter 2: Facts uncovered.
As SG-1 stood by the ramp waiting for the klaxons to lock, Jack looked, to his left, Carter and Teal'c, to his right stood Daniel a smile threatening to burst on his lips.
"Have a good shore leave?" he asked as Daniel's smile broadened reaching his eyes.
"More then you know, Jack"
"Soooo when are we going to meet your smiles influence?" he asked, his voice low
"Soon. Soon" Daniel replied as he stepped up the ramp and vanished, the rest of SG-1 followed suit.
As they reached the ruins Daniel's eyes grew wide, they where standing in between something very unique. There where 12, 15 feet pillars, standing tall in a circular shape, the pillars where square faced and had sharp edges, each with a unique set of markings, they seemed to be divided into four groups of three pillars each, the ground also had different shapes and there was a small hole in the ground somewhat in the middle of this gathering-place of stones. Daniel crouched down to take a closer look at the hole.
"This hole seems to be about the same diameter as the artifact that was given to me for study; do you think this can be some kind of Goa'uld trap?"
"This doesn't look like the Goa'uld built this, Daniel"
"I know it looks more like. the meaning of life stuff" both Sam and Daniel said it together as Jack looked at them bowing his head and reaching his fingers to his temples he said
"Oh no, not again with that stuff"
"Jack we need to get the disc, the artifact"
"Yeah, yeah I know, do you think you kids can stay out of trouble while I'll go get it?"
"You sir?"
"You have a problem with that?"
"No sir" Sam answered quickly.
"Teal'c, keep an eye on them, and guys try not to touch anything that can possibly zap you full of knowledge or make you fall into this sand sea" he pointed at the seemingly unending desert. "Ok?"
They smiled and nodded as Jack went back to the stargate and dialed Earth.
"Forgot to pick up the dry cleaning," he said to Hammond, as he looked at him quizzically.
As Jack left the gate room George joined him, on his way to Daniel's lab.
"Daniel found a . hole, he thinks it matches the size of the disc he was given to study by that student from the university" George nodded understanding.
The disc was lying on Daniel's desk, as Jack picked it up and placed it in his vest's pocket.
"See you later sir" he reached two fingers to his forehead in mock salute as he re-entered the dialed gate.
As he approached the ruins he could see Teal'c standing guard, his tall friend looked like a statue, not moving a muscle, one hand to his side the other holding the equally tall staff weapon. As he came nearer he could see Sam laid-back against a rock sitting on the sandy floor, Daniel was studying one of the pillars, totally oblivious to Jack's return.
"Hey kids, you play nice while I was gone?" he asked as Sam raised her head to him and Teal'c bowed his in quiet greeting, Daniel on the other hand jumped from his place rushing towards Jack
"Did you bring it?" he asked enthusiastically.
"Yeah Daniel, here you go" he handed the artifact to the overzealous archeologist. Daniel grabbed it and hurried to the little hole, he squatted on the floor and looked at the hole and again at the small disc, he shakily placed the disc into the hole. For a moment he thought nothing was happening but then suddenly he could feel the ground shake a bit, when he looked up he could have sworn the pillars themselves moved and where now facing into the circle instead of out, as they where before.
"What is going on here?" Jack asked
"I have no idea" Daniel replied, nothing else happened and after waiting for several hours Daniel dared to remove the disc from it's place, the pillars rotated back into their original position, and the team decided this was enough and packed their gear to go back home.
"We'll be back soon" Jack reassured Daniel as he had a disappointed look on his face. "We still have a weeks worth of work to do"
"Yeah I know" Daniel whispered "we can't leave the SGC for a whole week" he sounded so disappointed.
"Miss your friend?" Jack tried to be as subtle as possible. Daniel nodded but couldn't help the smile that grew on his face as he thought of Cheyenne. This week is gonna pass like a year he thought to himself.
As they stepped down the ramp General Hammond greeted them "What happened with the disc SG-1?"
"Nothing Sir, the rocks moved and that's it" Jack answered
"We are missing something, General; it has to be something else". Daniel said as they were all seated around the conference table, we need to go back there and check it out further.
"We will Dr. Jackson, after we find reason to, I'm afraid that moving rocks are not high on our priority at the moment"
Daniel was disappointed but knew better then to argue with General Hammond on something he knew was correct. He nodded in silence and tried listening to the rest of the debriefing, talking about the next planet they where scheduled to leave for the next morning, all he could do was think how long will this week last.
They went on two other missions to disserted planets that week finding absolutely nothing of importance, Daniel was itching to return home, something that was very uncharacteristic of him, as they made camp and started the small fire to cook their dinner and to warm them up as the night fell and the chill made it's way into their bones, Daniel made the excuse of going to the 'bathroom' as he took his leave of the team. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts, he hated these empty planets with nothing to do, he was hoping Jack would get so bored he would order them home that night but he didn't, instead he said they would make camp for the night and head out in the morning.
When he was gone too long Jack was getting worried "did any of you guys see Daniel lately?" he inquired.
"No Sir, it has been a while though do you want me to go look for him?" Sam asked "No Major, not to annoy you, you are a woman and ."
"I understand Sir" she cut him off
"I will go O'Neill" Teal'c volunteered
"Thanks Teal'c but I'll go" he said. He wanted to talk to Daniel alone anyway, he left them heading in the direction they last saw Daniel heading and soon disappeared from view.
As Jack walked on he wondered what could be bothering Daniel so much, he was eager to ask his friend if there was anything he could do to help.
"Daniel" he called out, as it appeared he was walking too far from camp still not running into his friend "Where are you?"
Daniel was reluctant to answer, he wanted to be left alone but knew if he didn't answer Jack would be very upset and worried not to mention angry.
"I'm over here Jack" his voice was low. As Jack approached he saw Daniel leaning against a rock looking to the setting sun on the horizon as the colors faded quickly.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked waiting for Daniel to respond.
"If I say no will you go and leave me?" his voice was sad
"Well." as he hesitated Daniel looked up at him hopeful "Actually.? No" Jack answered truthfully. "Something is bothering you Daniel and I want to help, if I can"
Daniel sighed before looking back down to his boots finding the laces very interesting.
"I'm involved with someone" he was quiet again for several minutes before resuming "her name is Cheyenne, funny same as our base" he chuckled a little but there was no humor behind it "She's the student that gave me the disc, well we met and became involved" he stopped again taking a deep breath "I think I'm in love with her" he let the words sink in not only into Jack's mind but also to himself as he realized what he was saying.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Jack finally talked
"It is, and I think she might feel the same"
"Then why are you so down?"
"I've had this terrible feeling ever since we started this whole exploring week, a feeling that something was wrong, that something happened to Chey, I know it must be my paranoia but I can't help feel there is something wrong"
"Why didn't you say something? We can be back on base in two hours" he said as he straitened, Daniel looked at him in utter shock
"You mean it?"
"Of course I do, Daniel, I've learned a long time ago to trust my gut instinct. And the gut instinct of my friends is just as important, if you have a bad feeling you should at least check on it, the best that would happen is that you'll be wrong" he smiled at his friend as he pulled on Daniel's sleeve to make him follow him.
As the two man reached the camp Sam and Teal'c raised their heads at the sudden and strange order from Col. O'Neill.
"Let's pack up things guys we're going home" They didn't question the order and within two hours as Jack promised they where back, descending the ramp.
"Is everything alright SG-1?" asked General Hammond surprised to see his team return at such a late hour.
"Yes and no Sir" Jack answered
"Debriefing in 30" Hammond ordered them to the infirmary, no one argued and within 30 minutes they where seated around the table.
"Jack, don't tell them" Daniel whispered before the General entered the briefing room.
"Well Colonel, would you like to explain your sudden return?"
"No Sir I can't, it was just a gut feeling that told me to get off that planet, and I can't explain more then that"
As a military man himself George knew about the gut feeling Jack was talking about and left well enough alone
"Very well SG-1 you have done a lot this week, take the rest of the week off and I'll see you on Monday morning"
The team stood nodding, as Daniel literally run out, he was stopped by Jack's call, he turned to face his friend
"Are you going to call her?" he asked noting the time was well after midnight
"I'll check my place first, I told her she could stay there if she didn't feel like going to the empty dorm you know since summer vacation wasn't over till this week" Jack nodded "then I'll check the dorm".
"I'm going home too so you let me know, and Daniel if there is anything you need you call me okay?"
Daniel nodded; a small smile appeared on his lips as he hurried to leave the mountain.
An hour later Jack was parking his car in his driveway, he took out the brown paper beg full of groceries he bought at the all night market on the way, knowing he had nothing addible at home, he climbed the few steps to his front door getting soaked by the pouring rain, he bumped into something on the ground, cursing, "What the hell." the beg fell from his hands and in the dark he looked down, what he saw was nothing he expected, he apparently bumped the bare lag of a woman, laying face down, both hands and feet tied together, he bent to feel for a pulse, he could barely feel it, it was so slow and weak, he untied her hands and feet and gently turned her onto her back, now he could see blood soaked through the tiny torn shirt, he quickly without thinking picked her in his arms and took her to his car, as he picked her up he could feel her cold skin, she was wet and freezing, he grabbed the blanket he always kept in the back sit and covered her as he climbed the driver seat and drove as fast as he could back to Cheyenne mountain.
As he neared the gate he stopped to let the guard see who he was
"Missed us already Col.?" He asked smiling
Jack didn't have time for this
"I'm in a hurry soldier" he said impatient as the man pressed the button and the gate rose, Jack drove to the nearest available space as close to the entrance, he picked up the unconscious woman and almost running, went to the elevators,
"Wait Col. You are entering with an unauthorized person" the second guard noticed Jack, running after him, he just missed as the elevator doors closed.
***
"Janet, Janet" Jack almost shouted in the empty quiet infirmary
"Col. O'Neill, what are you doing back here so late?" Janet was surprised to hear the Col's voice but as she came in she saw him gently placing a blood-covered woman on one of the beds.
As she came near to examine her, the first thought that came to her mind was that the Col. hit that woman with his car.
"What happened?" she asked after removing the stethoscope from her ears
"Found her bound and unconscious on my front porch" he said as Janet pushed him aside and resumed her preliminary survey of her patient. As more staff members came in to assist, Jack was pushed further away till finally someone told him it would be better if he waited outside.
He stepped to the hallway and set on the steel chair placing his hands over his eyes, this woman, this stranger was placed barely alive or dressed on his doorstep after being hurt, somehow, why he thought to himself who could do such a thing.
"Col. I understand you entered the base with an unauthorized person?" it was half a question and half an accusation, as the General walked down the hall. He was alerted to Col. O'Neill's actions by one of the lieutenants on guard duty and he was very upset with the Col. He's face softened as he saw the worried and exhausted features of his second in command.
He sat next to Jack looking at the hunched man "Col.?"
"I can't get it, how can anybody do a thing like that, and why my doorstep?" his voice was low and George felt for the younger man, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
They set on the steel uncomfortable chairs waiting for Janet to exit with any news.
It was about an hour later that Janet stepped out to the two waiting men
"Sirs I think there is something you need to see, will you follow me please?"
The two men stood to their feet and without a word followed the Doctor into the infirmary, what they saw was not something they've never seen before, the woman's face was barely visible, the tube helping her breath was secured to her face with tape completely concealing her mouth, her eyes where closed and both cheeks where bruised. She was a small woman but in that bed and surrounded with so many monitors she looked even smaller.
Janet lifted the sheet that was used as a blanket to reveal the woman's midsection, both man's jaws dropped open in shock, the bare stomach of the young woman was carved, probably with a knife, there was something written, carved on her, they tried to make out the writing when all three of them suddenly figured it out, Janet said it out loud first "BLAME ONEILL" both George and Janet looked at Jack, he shook his head "I don't know this woman, I swear I've never seen her before in my life"
Janet covered the wound with bandages and then covered the woman with the sheet again.
***
As soon as he reached his apartment and found it empty, Daniel could feel his heart sink. He closed the door behind him and went back to his car, driving to her dormitory he was afraid he wouldn't be allowed in since school started the beginning of that week, he was stopped at the front door by the security guard,
"I need to get up there" Daniel was on pins and needles
"I'm sorry Sir but you can't go up there, the best you can do is use the phone and call the person down to meet you" Daniel breathed in and walked over to the phone, he dialed Cheyenne's number and was greeted by a different unrecognizable voice
"Hello?"
"Hello is this Cheyenne's room?" he was confused
"Yes, this is her roommate Maureen; she's not here who's this?"
"Her." he paused, what was he? Well he couldn't dwell on that at the moment and he gave the best answer he thought of "boyfriend"
"Oh" she smiled, "I'll be right down" she hung up before he could say another word.
He sat on the couch in the main room waiting, a small brunette walked over to him
"Are you Daniel?" he rose nodding his head as she smiled briefly, then a very worried expression dawned on her beautiful face
"Then she's not with you" she stated rather then asked as he again used his head to reply negative
"What is going on?" he finally found his voice
"Chey's missing, when she missed three days of classes and left no word I got worried, I searched everywhere, even left a message on your phone, she hasn't been seen in about a week"
"Did you call the police?" Daniel asked frantic
"Yes, they are looking for her" Daniel nodded
"I have to find her" he said his voice low "will you call me if you find her first?" he asked as Maureen nodded
"You do the same okay?" she asked as he nodded and run back to his car.
***
As he entered sub-level 26 he was greeted by Sam
"Good morning Daniel" she said but then caught a look at his unshaven face and dark circles around the eyes "Oh I guess your morning isn't good, is everything okay?"
Daniel shook his head, then whispered
"Chey's missing"
"Who's Chey?" she asked, as Daniel realized he hasn't told anyone other then Jack about her,
"Where's Jack?" he asked changing the subject
"Oh you didn't hear?" Daniel's heart sank as he heard the worry in Sam's voice
"What?"
"He came back here last night, apparently someone left a half dead woman on his doorstep"
"Where is he?" Daniel inquired
"He's in the infirmary, he's been there all night, refuses to leave" she had to almost shout the last sentence as he was already running to the infirmary to find Jack and ask for his help.
As he entered the infirmary he could see it was empty but one occupied bed, too many monitors and equipment was around the bed to even see that it was all attached to a human being, Jack was seated in an uncomfortable chair, his position revealed to Daniel that he was asleep boy will his neck hurt when he wakes up he though to himself as he slowly walked toward the bed
"Jack?" he called still several steps behind; Jack jumped at the sound and turned to look back as he groaned when his body protested the sudden movement.
As he stood to greet Daniel he moved slightly and Daniel could see the person lying on the bed
"Cheyenne?" this one word made the entire universe spin for both men
"What?" Jack asked after what seemed to be minutes if not hours of silence.
"What is going on here?" Daniel uttered barely able to restrain himself from running to the tiny still figure on the huge bed.
"That's Cheyenne" Daniel pointed to the bed just as Janet walked in.
"What? You know this woman?" she questioned
"Yes"
"Who is she?"
"She's. she's. my"
"What Daniel, what is going on here?"
"She's his girlfriend" Jack finally answered for him
"Then why did..." Jack's sudden waves of his head made her stop
"What?" it was Daniel's turn to ask
"Doctor, please call General Hammond and ask him to meet us all in the briefing room, let's go Daniel" Jack left followed by a distraught archeologist. On their way they saw Sam and she joined them, meeting Teal'c and the General in the briefing room, as they all found their seat's Janet entered and sat down as well.
"Well?" the General asked looking at the Colonel.
"I think we have a situation here Sir, but we all need to clear up some things".
He took a deep breath then resumed
"Daniel and the student that gave him the disc for study, well." he looked at Daniel who's head was bowed and he was staring at his fingers "they got involved and fell in love" he said it as short as possible, all eyes where on Daniel who has yet to look up.
"We haven't met her since we where off world all the time, Daniel was going to introduce us this weekend" Jack didn't know if it was true but he didn't want the team to think Daniel was keeping things from them, they where after all his family.
"The real reason we came back from the planet in the middle of the night was because Daniel had a bad feeling that something happened to Cheyenne, he was apparently right since at the same time he was running around town looking for her I found her ." he knew the next words would be a complete shock to Daniel "bound and unconscious and bleeding, on my doorstep" Daniel's eyes flew open and he raised his eyes to look at Jack in utter shock
"What?" his voice was trembling
"I didn't know who she was till you came in and told me" Jack apologized.
"There's another thing you need to know Daniel" Jack said as Daniel looked into his friend's eyes
"Her stomach was carved with the words 'BLAME ONEILL', I don't know why"
Everyone else in the room was quiet as the General took a deep breath and pointed his next question at Janet
"What is her condition Doctor?"
"She's unconscious, Sir, she lost a lot of blood, she was beaten apparently for a while, maybe a few days, she has a broken arm and on top of everything she has developed pneumonia, I had to intubate to help her with her breathing, physically I think she'll be fine but we'll know more when she wakes up" Janet was very adamant at stressing the word when instead of if.
"So now what" Sam was the first to express what was on everybody's mind
"Now we wait for Cheyenne to wake up, maybe she can shed some light on who did this to her and why" Janet answered as small nods where visible and the General dismissed them. Both Daniel and Jack hurried back to the infirmary even beating Janet.
"Thank you Jack" Daniel said as they both stood by the bed.
"For what?" He asked surprised
"For staying with Chey" a small smile dawned on Jack's lips as he bowed his head and reclaimed the uncomfortable chair by the bed,
"Get your own chair, Daniel I'm not planning on leaving here"
Both men set in silence by the bed, each occupied with his thoughts.
***
"Col. O'Neill? Can I talk to you?" Janet was standing behind the two sitting men, Jack turned to see her serious features
"Sure" he stood to his feet groaning at the hardened joints of his body, they stepped to Janet's office leaving a sleeping Daniel by Cheyenne's bed.
"Please sit down Col." Janet ordered him as he looked at her, surprise written on his face.
"Janet? What is going on here?"
"I took deliberately in searching for any background on Cheyenne" Jack looked and listened saying nothing as Janet continued
"She was abandoned by her mother soon after birth, at Colorado General Hospital, 23 years ago, she was raised in several foster homes until she was 18, then she received a scholarship to Colorado State University, she is working on her masters in, get this, Archeology". As she finished, Jack looked at her and asked
"Okay, why are you telling me all this?"
"When I took blood tests, I sent some for tissue analysis, it came back a match with someone on base"
"Match for what Doctor, what are you talking about?"
"Jack, I don't know how to tell you this except to just tell you. Cheyenne's your daughter.
***
TBC
Please Read and Review.
Chapter 2: Facts uncovered.
As SG-1 stood by the ramp waiting for the klaxons to lock, Jack looked, to his left, Carter and Teal'c, to his right stood Daniel a smile threatening to burst on his lips.
"Have a good shore leave?" he asked as Daniel's smile broadened reaching his eyes.
"More then you know, Jack"
"Soooo when are we going to meet your smiles influence?" he asked, his voice low
"Soon. Soon" Daniel replied as he stepped up the ramp and vanished, the rest of SG-1 followed suit.
As they reached the ruins Daniel's eyes grew wide, they where standing in between something very unique. There where 12, 15 feet pillars, standing tall in a circular shape, the pillars where square faced and had sharp edges, each with a unique set of markings, they seemed to be divided into four groups of three pillars each, the ground also had different shapes and there was a small hole in the ground somewhat in the middle of this gathering-place of stones. Daniel crouched down to take a closer look at the hole.
"This hole seems to be about the same diameter as the artifact that was given to me for study; do you think this can be some kind of Goa'uld trap?"
"This doesn't look like the Goa'uld built this, Daniel"
"I know it looks more like. the meaning of life stuff" both Sam and Daniel said it together as Jack looked at them bowing his head and reaching his fingers to his temples he said
"Oh no, not again with that stuff"
"Jack we need to get the disc, the artifact"
"Yeah, yeah I know, do you think you kids can stay out of trouble while I'll go get it?"
"You sir?"
"You have a problem with that?"
"No sir" Sam answered quickly.
"Teal'c, keep an eye on them, and guys try not to touch anything that can possibly zap you full of knowledge or make you fall into this sand sea" he pointed at the seemingly unending desert. "Ok?"
They smiled and nodded as Jack went back to the stargate and dialed Earth.
"Forgot to pick up the dry cleaning," he said to Hammond, as he looked at him quizzically.
As Jack left the gate room George joined him, on his way to Daniel's lab.
"Daniel found a . hole, he thinks it matches the size of the disc he was given to study by that student from the university" George nodded understanding.
The disc was lying on Daniel's desk, as Jack picked it up and placed it in his vest's pocket.
"See you later sir" he reached two fingers to his forehead in mock salute as he re-entered the dialed gate.
As he approached the ruins he could see Teal'c standing guard, his tall friend looked like a statue, not moving a muscle, one hand to his side the other holding the equally tall staff weapon. As he came nearer he could see Sam laid-back against a rock sitting on the sandy floor, Daniel was studying one of the pillars, totally oblivious to Jack's return.
"Hey kids, you play nice while I was gone?" he asked as Sam raised her head to him and Teal'c bowed his in quiet greeting, Daniel on the other hand jumped from his place rushing towards Jack
"Did you bring it?" he asked enthusiastically.
"Yeah Daniel, here you go" he handed the artifact to the overzealous archeologist. Daniel grabbed it and hurried to the little hole, he squatted on the floor and looked at the hole and again at the small disc, he shakily placed the disc into the hole. For a moment he thought nothing was happening but then suddenly he could feel the ground shake a bit, when he looked up he could have sworn the pillars themselves moved and where now facing into the circle instead of out, as they where before.
"What is going on here?" Jack asked
"I have no idea" Daniel replied, nothing else happened and after waiting for several hours Daniel dared to remove the disc from it's place, the pillars rotated back into their original position, and the team decided this was enough and packed their gear to go back home.
"We'll be back soon" Jack reassured Daniel as he had a disappointed look on his face. "We still have a weeks worth of work to do"
"Yeah I know" Daniel whispered "we can't leave the SGC for a whole week" he sounded so disappointed.
"Miss your friend?" Jack tried to be as subtle as possible. Daniel nodded but couldn't help the smile that grew on his face as he thought of Cheyenne. This week is gonna pass like a year he thought to himself.
As they stepped down the ramp General Hammond greeted them "What happened with the disc SG-1?"
"Nothing Sir, the rocks moved and that's it" Jack answered
"We are missing something, General; it has to be something else". Daniel said as they were all seated around the conference table, we need to go back there and check it out further.
"We will Dr. Jackson, after we find reason to, I'm afraid that moving rocks are not high on our priority at the moment"
Daniel was disappointed but knew better then to argue with General Hammond on something he knew was correct. He nodded in silence and tried listening to the rest of the debriefing, talking about the next planet they where scheduled to leave for the next morning, all he could do was think how long will this week last.
They went on two other missions to disserted planets that week finding absolutely nothing of importance, Daniel was itching to return home, something that was very uncharacteristic of him, as they made camp and started the small fire to cook their dinner and to warm them up as the night fell and the chill made it's way into their bones, Daniel made the excuse of going to the 'bathroom' as he took his leave of the team. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts, he hated these empty planets with nothing to do, he was hoping Jack would get so bored he would order them home that night but he didn't, instead he said they would make camp for the night and head out in the morning.
When he was gone too long Jack was getting worried "did any of you guys see Daniel lately?" he inquired.
"No Sir, it has been a while though do you want me to go look for him?" Sam asked "No Major, not to annoy you, you are a woman and ."
"I understand Sir" she cut him off
"I will go O'Neill" Teal'c volunteered
"Thanks Teal'c but I'll go" he said. He wanted to talk to Daniel alone anyway, he left them heading in the direction they last saw Daniel heading and soon disappeared from view.
As Jack walked on he wondered what could be bothering Daniel so much, he was eager to ask his friend if there was anything he could do to help.
"Daniel" he called out, as it appeared he was walking too far from camp still not running into his friend "Where are you?"
Daniel was reluctant to answer, he wanted to be left alone but knew if he didn't answer Jack would be very upset and worried not to mention angry.
"I'm over here Jack" his voice was low. As Jack approached he saw Daniel leaning against a rock looking to the setting sun on the horizon as the colors faded quickly.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked waiting for Daniel to respond.
"If I say no will you go and leave me?" his voice was sad
"Well." as he hesitated Daniel looked up at him hopeful "Actually.? No" Jack answered truthfully. "Something is bothering you Daniel and I want to help, if I can"
Daniel sighed before looking back down to his boots finding the laces very interesting.
"I'm involved with someone" he was quiet again for several minutes before resuming "her name is Cheyenne, funny same as our base" he chuckled a little but there was no humor behind it "She's the student that gave me the disc, well we met and became involved" he stopped again taking a deep breath "I think I'm in love with her" he let the words sink in not only into Jack's mind but also to himself as he realized what he was saying.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Jack finally talked
"It is, and I think she might feel the same"
"Then why are you so down?"
"I've had this terrible feeling ever since we started this whole exploring week, a feeling that something was wrong, that something happened to Chey, I know it must be my paranoia but I can't help feel there is something wrong"
"Why didn't you say something? We can be back on base in two hours" he said as he straitened, Daniel looked at him in utter shock
"You mean it?"
"Of course I do, Daniel, I've learned a long time ago to trust my gut instinct. And the gut instinct of my friends is just as important, if you have a bad feeling you should at least check on it, the best that would happen is that you'll be wrong" he smiled at his friend as he pulled on Daniel's sleeve to make him follow him.
As the two man reached the camp Sam and Teal'c raised their heads at the sudden and strange order from Col. O'Neill.
"Let's pack up things guys we're going home" They didn't question the order and within two hours as Jack promised they where back, descending the ramp.
"Is everything alright SG-1?" asked General Hammond surprised to see his team return at such a late hour.
"Yes and no Sir" Jack answered
"Debriefing in 30" Hammond ordered them to the infirmary, no one argued and within 30 minutes they where seated around the table.
"Jack, don't tell them" Daniel whispered before the General entered the briefing room.
"Well Colonel, would you like to explain your sudden return?"
"No Sir I can't, it was just a gut feeling that told me to get off that planet, and I can't explain more then that"
As a military man himself George knew about the gut feeling Jack was talking about and left well enough alone
"Very well SG-1 you have done a lot this week, take the rest of the week off and I'll see you on Monday morning"
The team stood nodding, as Daniel literally run out, he was stopped by Jack's call, he turned to face his friend
"Are you going to call her?" he asked noting the time was well after midnight
"I'll check my place first, I told her she could stay there if she didn't feel like going to the empty dorm you know since summer vacation wasn't over till this week" Jack nodded "then I'll check the dorm".
"I'm going home too so you let me know, and Daniel if there is anything you need you call me okay?"
Daniel nodded; a small smile appeared on his lips as he hurried to leave the mountain.
An hour later Jack was parking his car in his driveway, he took out the brown paper beg full of groceries he bought at the all night market on the way, knowing he had nothing addible at home, he climbed the few steps to his front door getting soaked by the pouring rain, he bumped into something on the ground, cursing, "What the hell." the beg fell from his hands and in the dark he looked down, what he saw was nothing he expected, he apparently bumped the bare lag of a woman, laying face down, both hands and feet tied together, he bent to feel for a pulse, he could barely feel it, it was so slow and weak, he untied her hands and feet and gently turned her onto her back, now he could see blood soaked through the tiny torn shirt, he quickly without thinking picked her in his arms and took her to his car, as he picked her up he could feel her cold skin, she was wet and freezing, he grabbed the blanket he always kept in the back sit and covered her as he climbed the driver seat and drove as fast as he could back to Cheyenne mountain.
As he neared the gate he stopped to let the guard see who he was
"Missed us already Col.?" He asked smiling
Jack didn't have time for this
"I'm in a hurry soldier" he said impatient as the man pressed the button and the gate rose, Jack drove to the nearest available space as close to the entrance, he picked up the unconscious woman and almost running, went to the elevators,
"Wait Col. You are entering with an unauthorized person" the second guard noticed Jack, running after him, he just missed as the elevator doors closed.
***
"Janet, Janet" Jack almost shouted in the empty quiet infirmary
"Col. O'Neill, what are you doing back here so late?" Janet was surprised to hear the Col's voice but as she came in she saw him gently placing a blood-covered woman on one of the beds.
As she came near to examine her, the first thought that came to her mind was that the Col. hit that woman with his car.
"What happened?" she asked after removing the stethoscope from her ears
"Found her bound and unconscious on my front porch" he said as Janet pushed him aside and resumed her preliminary survey of her patient. As more staff members came in to assist, Jack was pushed further away till finally someone told him it would be better if he waited outside.
He stepped to the hallway and set on the steel chair placing his hands over his eyes, this woman, this stranger was placed barely alive or dressed on his doorstep after being hurt, somehow, why he thought to himself who could do such a thing.
"Col. I understand you entered the base with an unauthorized person?" it was half a question and half an accusation, as the General walked down the hall. He was alerted to Col. O'Neill's actions by one of the lieutenants on guard duty and he was very upset with the Col. He's face softened as he saw the worried and exhausted features of his second in command.
He sat next to Jack looking at the hunched man "Col.?"
"I can't get it, how can anybody do a thing like that, and why my doorstep?" his voice was low and George felt for the younger man, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
They set on the steel uncomfortable chairs waiting for Janet to exit with any news.
It was about an hour later that Janet stepped out to the two waiting men
"Sirs I think there is something you need to see, will you follow me please?"
The two men stood to their feet and without a word followed the Doctor into the infirmary, what they saw was not something they've never seen before, the woman's face was barely visible, the tube helping her breath was secured to her face with tape completely concealing her mouth, her eyes where closed and both cheeks where bruised. She was a small woman but in that bed and surrounded with so many monitors she looked even smaller.
Janet lifted the sheet that was used as a blanket to reveal the woman's midsection, both man's jaws dropped open in shock, the bare stomach of the young woman was carved, probably with a knife, there was something written, carved on her, they tried to make out the writing when all three of them suddenly figured it out, Janet said it out loud first "BLAME ONEILL" both George and Janet looked at Jack, he shook his head "I don't know this woman, I swear I've never seen her before in my life"
Janet covered the wound with bandages and then covered the woman with the sheet again.
***
As soon as he reached his apartment and found it empty, Daniel could feel his heart sink. He closed the door behind him and went back to his car, driving to her dormitory he was afraid he wouldn't be allowed in since school started the beginning of that week, he was stopped at the front door by the security guard,
"I need to get up there" Daniel was on pins and needles
"I'm sorry Sir but you can't go up there, the best you can do is use the phone and call the person down to meet you" Daniel breathed in and walked over to the phone, he dialed Cheyenne's number and was greeted by a different unrecognizable voice
"Hello?"
"Hello is this Cheyenne's room?" he was confused
"Yes, this is her roommate Maureen; she's not here who's this?"
"Her." he paused, what was he? Well he couldn't dwell on that at the moment and he gave the best answer he thought of "boyfriend"
"Oh" she smiled, "I'll be right down" she hung up before he could say another word.
He sat on the couch in the main room waiting, a small brunette walked over to him
"Are you Daniel?" he rose nodding his head as she smiled briefly, then a very worried expression dawned on her beautiful face
"Then she's not with you" she stated rather then asked as he again used his head to reply negative
"What is going on?" he finally found his voice
"Chey's missing, when she missed three days of classes and left no word I got worried, I searched everywhere, even left a message on your phone, she hasn't been seen in about a week"
"Did you call the police?" Daniel asked frantic
"Yes, they are looking for her" Daniel nodded
"I have to find her" he said his voice low "will you call me if you find her first?" he asked as Maureen nodded
"You do the same okay?" she asked as he nodded and run back to his car.
***
As he entered sub-level 26 he was greeted by Sam
"Good morning Daniel" she said but then caught a look at his unshaven face and dark circles around the eyes "Oh I guess your morning isn't good, is everything okay?"
Daniel shook his head, then whispered
"Chey's missing"
"Who's Chey?" she asked, as Daniel realized he hasn't told anyone other then Jack about her,
"Where's Jack?" he asked changing the subject
"Oh you didn't hear?" Daniel's heart sank as he heard the worry in Sam's voice
"What?"
"He came back here last night, apparently someone left a half dead woman on his doorstep"
"Where is he?" Daniel inquired
"He's in the infirmary, he's been there all night, refuses to leave" she had to almost shout the last sentence as he was already running to the infirmary to find Jack and ask for his help.
As he entered the infirmary he could see it was empty but one occupied bed, too many monitors and equipment was around the bed to even see that it was all attached to a human being, Jack was seated in an uncomfortable chair, his position revealed to Daniel that he was asleep boy will his neck hurt when he wakes up he though to himself as he slowly walked toward the bed
"Jack?" he called still several steps behind; Jack jumped at the sound and turned to look back as he groaned when his body protested the sudden movement.
As he stood to greet Daniel he moved slightly and Daniel could see the person lying on the bed
"Cheyenne?" this one word made the entire universe spin for both men
"What?" Jack asked after what seemed to be minutes if not hours of silence.
"What is going on here?" Daniel uttered barely able to restrain himself from running to the tiny still figure on the huge bed.
"That's Cheyenne" Daniel pointed to the bed just as Janet walked in.
"What? You know this woman?" she questioned
"Yes"
"Who is she?"
"She's. she's. my"
"What Daniel, what is going on here?"
"She's his girlfriend" Jack finally answered for him
"Then why did..." Jack's sudden waves of his head made her stop
"What?" it was Daniel's turn to ask
"Doctor, please call General Hammond and ask him to meet us all in the briefing room, let's go Daniel" Jack left followed by a distraught archeologist. On their way they saw Sam and she joined them, meeting Teal'c and the General in the briefing room, as they all found their seat's Janet entered and sat down as well.
"Well?" the General asked looking at the Colonel.
"I think we have a situation here Sir, but we all need to clear up some things".
He took a deep breath then resumed
"Daniel and the student that gave him the disc for study, well." he looked at Daniel who's head was bowed and he was staring at his fingers "they got involved and fell in love" he said it as short as possible, all eyes where on Daniel who has yet to look up.
"We haven't met her since we where off world all the time, Daniel was going to introduce us this weekend" Jack didn't know if it was true but he didn't want the team to think Daniel was keeping things from them, they where after all his family.
"The real reason we came back from the planet in the middle of the night was because Daniel had a bad feeling that something happened to Cheyenne, he was apparently right since at the same time he was running around town looking for her I found her ." he knew the next words would be a complete shock to Daniel "bound and unconscious and bleeding, on my doorstep" Daniel's eyes flew open and he raised his eyes to look at Jack in utter shock
"What?" his voice was trembling
"I didn't know who she was till you came in and told me" Jack apologized.
"There's another thing you need to know Daniel" Jack said as Daniel looked into his friend's eyes
"Her stomach was carved with the words 'BLAME ONEILL', I don't know why"
Everyone else in the room was quiet as the General took a deep breath and pointed his next question at Janet
"What is her condition Doctor?"
"She's unconscious, Sir, she lost a lot of blood, she was beaten apparently for a while, maybe a few days, she has a broken arm and on top of everything she has developed pneumonia, I had to intubate to help her with her breathing, physically I think she'll be fine but we'll know more when she wakes up" Janet was very adamant at stressing the word when instead of if.
"So now what" Sam was the first to express what was on everybody's mind
"Now we wait for Cheyenne to wake up, maybe she can shed some light on who did this to her and why" Janet answered as small nods where visible and the General dismissed them. Both Daniel and Jack hurried back to the infirmary even beating Janet.
"Thank you Jack" Daniel said as they both stood by the bed.
"For what?" He asked surprised
"For staying with Chey" a small smile dawned on Jack's lips as he bowed his head and reclaimed the uncomfortable chair by the bed,
"Get your own chair, Daniel I'm not planning on leaving here"
Both men set in silence by the bed, each occupied with his thoughts.
***
"Col. O'Neill? Can I talk to you?" Janet was standing behind the two sitting men, Jack turned to see her serious features
"Sure" he stood to his feet groaning at the hardened joints of his body, they stepped to Janet's office leaving a sleeping Daniel by Cheyenne's bed.
"Please sit down Col." Janet ordered him as he looked at her, surprise written on his face.
"Janet? What is going on here?"
"I took deliberately in searching for any background on Cheyenne" Jack looked and listened saying nothing as Janet continued
"She was abandoned by her mother soon after birth, at Colorado General Hospital, 23 years ago, she was raised in several foster homes until she was 18, then she received a scholarship to Colorado State University, she is working on her masters in, get this, Archeology". As she finished, Jack looked at her and asked
"Okay, why are you telling me all this?"
"When I took blood tests, I sent some for tissue analysis, it came back a match with someone on base"
"Match for what Doctor, what are you talking about?"
"Jack, I don't know how to tell you this except to just tell you. Cheyenne's your daughter.
***
TBC
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