Part 4: Without Him

"Are you happy with your life?"

I look at the woman in annoyance, way beyond annoyance actually. She's been plastering me all day with very personal questions, and I mean VERY personal. Now I know why the Colonel has such a sarcasm in him, it's hard not to. And me, being in his shoes now, finding it difficult not to practise his art of diplomacy.

"Yes, Servit. I couldn't be more happier with my life." Fighting some overdressed psychos on a daily basis, have a man that's labelled 'don't touch but you can look', have a friend with a snake in his belly, have a FATHER with a snake in his head, don't forget I once HAD a snake in my head, oh yeah, I couldn't be more happier with my life. See, I bet only a few of you have more interesting lives than mine.

She shakes her head.

"You are not being honest."

I raise my eyebrow ala Teal'c, "What makes you say that?"

She smiles, "I have the ability."

Okaaaayyyy, "Ability to do what?"

"To sense deceptions."

"What do you mean?" This alien is not only frustrating but also very confusing. If only she wasn't one of the Grand members (the Cayan's bureaucrats), I would've made my escape long ago.

She closes her eyes, "I have what your people call ... telepathic power."

Great, just what I need, a frustratingly annoying and confusing alien who has a psychic ability, the Colonel would be thrilled if he were here, "You mean ... you can read my mind?"

"Not exactly, but I can sense your feelings."

Now, that's just saying it in different way, "Prove it." I challenge her.

"You don't trust me?" She asks.

"I'm a scientist Servit, I look at things based on facts, on evidence."

She smiles again, "What if I say that there is someone in your life. Someone who is very dear to you."

I'm so not gonna fall for that one, "Everybody has someone important in their life."

"Yes, but he is constantly on your mind. You've been connecting everything you see and hear to him. He is supposed to be here with you, but for some reason he is not. I believe you referred to him as ... the Colonel and yet it is not his name ... curious."

Either the rest of my team and SG-7 are big-mouthed or she really could read my mind.

She senses my doubt, "Your people did not say anything about him. It was your feelings that gave it away. Such a strong emotion, it's not hard to miss."

Yes, she could read my mind. I frown, "Look, I'm not sure what your culture thinks about this, but for us, what you did is a violation to privacy."

"Privacy?"

"Yes, it is someone's right to be free from an unsanctioned intrusion."

"Are you saying that my ability is an intrusion?"

"Yes." I almost shout there.

"Then I must apologise. However, my ability is not something that I have control of, it is just there. It's like hearing voices with my ears, only I can not plug the ears."

She's got a point there.

"Okay, you are right, you can't help it. But I will be grateful if you don't talk about what you sense from me with anyone else."

She nods her head, "I understand."

I'm glad we covered that, "Does everybody in Cayan have the same ability as yours?" I really need to ask this.

"No, only the Chosen ones have the privilege to inherit this ability."

"And how many of the Chosen ones are there in Cayan?" I need names, so that I can avoid them.

"There are three of us and because of this ability we were made Grand."

"Are you saying that all the Grands have this ability?"

"Yes. It helps us in dealing with our people."

Great, all I have to do is stay away from the Grands, and it will be very easy because I'm in command of this mission. Just peachy. Wait a minute ... peachy? Did I just use that word? Man, I think more and more like the Colonel these days and it's kinda spooky, nice kind of spooky.

"You are thinking about him again."

Oops, I forgot that there is a mind reader with me.

"Yes." There's no point in lying.

She gives me an odd look, "Is it because of him that you are unhappy?"

This is exactly the kind of conversation that I don't want to have with a complete stranger.

"Don't get me wrong, but I'm not entirely comfortable discussing this matter with you."

"Yes, of course. My apology."

Major Gibbs suddenly appears in the door, "Major Carter, we're ready to leave now."

"Ah, yes. Have you got anything that you need with you?"

"Yes."

"Okay. I'll walk you back to the gate." I turn to Servit, "Please excuse me."

"Yes, of course."

Daniel wanted to stay in Cayan to study Abel's chamber in more depth and General Hammond had granted his request, beside the Cayan's Grands had also shown interest in making an alliance with us. So SG-7 will go back to the SGC today, bringing all the readings and mineral samples that we've took while SG-1 will remain here. Gibbs and I walk side by side through the city on our way to the Stargate.

"Gibbs, I want your honest opinion."

He looks at me questioningly, "About what?"

I look around the city, it seems like a normal one, but there's something that is definitely odd here, "What do you think about these people?"

He sighs, "I'm not sure Major. They seemed normal, but they were too ... cautioned."

"The Grands can read minds."

Gibbs is surprised by my revelation, "Are you sure?"

"Servit told me."

"And you trust her?"

"She read mine." I tell him matter-of-factly

He is silenced for a while, "This is not good."

"Ya think?" Yep, I definitely sound more and more like the Colonel.

Gibbs chuckles for a while, "Colonel O'Neill rubbed off on you, huh?"

"Can't blame me for that. Even Teal'c and Daniel got a pinch of his sarcasm."

"Dear God, he infected every member of his team. Remind me not to let my kids near him, would you Ma'am?"

We grin at that, "Don't worry Major, you have to spend at least 5 years with him to join the rest of SG-1 in our incurable stage."

"Oh no, Major. He needs 5 years time with the three of you because you're strong. Hike, Trance and Barlow are still innocent, give the Colonel 5 minutes and I'll have a team of mini Jack O'Neill's on my hands. Every team leader's nightmare." He pretends to shudder.

"It sure is."

"Is there anything else that you want me to relay to the General, Major?"

"Just tell him what I've told you."

"Got it."

We walk in silence for a while.

"Hey, you want to do some more dishing on your CO while he isn't here? We'll take turns." Gibbs offers. The Stargate is still quite far.

I think about his proposal for a while ... might as well do that. Sorry Colonel, but this is your own fault, you are not here.

"What you got?"

Gibbs laughs, "Okay, I heard it from one of the SF. Apparently, he's a closet romantic."

I've already known that, "Really? What gave it away?"

"The SF heard him humming a love song in the shower."

This is new. I couldn't stifle a giggle, "He sings?", it's definitely a picture that I have to see.

"Not singing, just humming."

"Did the SF say what song?"

"It's 'Crazy', you know, the one that Julio Iglesias sings."

I have to chuckle at that, mmm ... maybe I can blackmail him to sing that song for me. That would make my day.

"Your turn." Gibbs says.

Mmm, which of the Colonel's secrets are safe to go round the SGC rumour mills?

"He thinks that Homer Simpson is the greatest American ever."

Gibbs winces at that, "Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"What makes him think that?"

"Beats me."

I honestly don't know the answer to that question. Not that I wanted to know anyway ... okay that was just a pure white lie. I am ANXIOUS to know, but he kept tight lips on that matter.

"Your turn." I say.

"Okay ... he had a tattoo on his ...", Gibbs clears his throat, " rear ..." , he pauses, "of a white dove."

Oh Boy, this is good, really good. Why haven't I thought about doing this before?

************************************

"I have the vision."

"Then we will do it soon."

"Are you sure that this is wise?"

"We need her."

"Our time is running out."

************************************

"Maybourne, we've been here for almost a week now, come on. Hack into his computer, do some snooping, get something out, just do something." Jack O'Neill was not a happy camper. He had a bad feeling, the instinctive nudge that said something was wrong, very wrong.

"Jack, Kinsey is not stupid, it's not that easy." Maybourne snapped. He's been trying so hard to get back at Kinsey, he used him and then let him rot in that jail. If Jack hadn't given him a chance, he would still be there. That was one of the reasons why he warned him about Kinsey's plan. He quite liked Jack actually, not that he would tell him that.

Jack knew this, but he couldn't help himself. He paced around the room, "Look ... maybe we're looking in the wrong direction."

Maybourne adverted his gaze from the computer screen to him, "I'm listening."

"Tell me about Larry."

"Nothing much, he's a free agent, Kinsey occasionally used him. Rumors said that he never failed to do his job ... until Wegner."

"So ... this is what? He wants to tie up a loose end?"

Maybourne sighed, "Jack, you're not a loose end, you're a pain in the ass."

"OY."

"Are you denying this?"

Jack said nothing, "Let's get back to the problem. Where can we find Larry?"

"Why do you want to find him?"

"He might have something that we can use to get at Kinsey."

"You're right. Larry is a professional, he must have something as an insurance in case Kinsey turns his back on him. I'll check it immediately."

Maybourne concentrated back to his computer while Jack muttered under his breath, "I'm always right."

"Did you say something?" Maybourne asked, his eyes were still fixed to the screen.

"Nothing."

************************************

to be continued

AN: Mmm, the story goes beyond my initial idea. Tell me what you think about it anyway ... :). Please do send reviews and feedbacks as always.

blue-topaz@lycos.com