Title: Wherever You Go, There You Are

Spoilers: Nothing new.

Rating: Um, PG just to be safe. Minor language.

Disclaimer: Stargate SG1 and Farscape are owned by lovely, wonderful people. I am not among them.

Author's note: One more chapter to go!

Wherever You Go, There You Are: The Night We Called It Day

Zhaan followed in John's wake, hearing him before she actually saw him. He was throwing rocks against a tree, using them as punctuation for his words, each pitch knocking bits of bark off the tree.

"Damn Air Force." Thud. "Probably had to convene a committee." Thud. "Do a study." Thud. "Analyze the alternatives." Thud. "Staff a package." Thud. "Ask the janitor."

"Feel better?" She asked as she walked between him and the tree just as he was about to throw another rock.

His arm froze in mid-swing. "Not really, no."

"Then it does little good to take your anger out on the tree."

"It's just a tree, Zhaan."

"And what does that make me, John?"

"I don't know, Blue, but I'd suggest you not stand there right now."

Zhaan glanced at Aeryn, perched on a large rock out of John's range. She said, "Don't look at me. I shoot things when I'm mad."

"Give them a chance, John," Zhaan said. "They were given an hour of your time, and I believe they will use that as an opportunity to find a solution."

"Not going well, I take it," D'Argo's voice suddenly spoke in John's ear.

"That would be one way to put it, yeah. Apparently the Air Force isn't having any luck convincing the Pentagon to let me go back."

"And they can stop you?"

"I could work the gate, but I can't get through their end without a recognition code. And even if I did, I would probably be locked up for the rest of my natural life. Somebody in charge has decided I'm a threat."

"So, in other words, they've met you?"

"You know, you could offer some helpful advice here."

"You want advice? Whatever you're going to do, do it fast."

"You're kidding, right?" John asked.

"No. Pilot has picked up a Peacekeeper vessel on Moya's sensors."

"Frell," Aeryn said sharply.

"Scorpius?" John asked.

D'Argo replied, "Pilot says it's another Leviathan."

"Which means it could just be a long-range transport ship."

"Or it could be our favorite Scarren," John threw the last rock hard against the tree.

"Have they seen Moya?" John asked.

"Pilot doesn't think so. Moya is moving to the far side of the planet though, just in case. While they can't see the planet's surface yet, anybody who's going back"

"Needs to get going. Right."

Aeryn moved to stand next to John. "What do you want to do?"

John held her gaze for a long moment, and then looked away. "There's not much I can do, is there? If it were anything but a Leviathan, we might be able to bluff our way out."

Zhaan said, "Moya could starburst, and you and the others could hide here on the planet."

"And if it's Scorpius?"

"We'll provide enough of a distraction for him to follow," D'Argo said.

"Even if they send a landing party down, chances are they will stay near the town," Zhaan added. "You can leave as soon as the ship is gone."

"And if we can't go to Earth?"

"We will come back for you," D'Argo replied.

"Only one problem with that plan, D. If Sam and the others don't show up back home real soon, their general is going to try and find out why. One way or the other, the gate is gonna get used, and as soon as it opens, Scorpy's going to know we're here."

"What if it's not Scorpius on the Leviathan?" D'Argo asked.

Aeryn grunted a laugh. "With our luck?"

"Right."

Zhaan asked, "What do you want to do, John?"

He shrugged. "I'll think of something."

"Houston, we have a problem," John said as O'Neill walked toward him.

"Ah, but we have a plan."

John laughed sharply. "I don't think your plan covers this." Jack raised his eyebrows in question. "Moya picked up another Leviathan."

"Okay."

"This one isn't friendly."

"Right. Then we should leave."

"And there's the problem." He paused, and Jack gestured for him to continue. "Look, I'm betting that our number one bad guy has put out an APB on anything wormhole related. Anybody picks up any active wormholes, it's going to get back to Scorpy real fast."

"Right," Jack repeated. "Then we should leave before they come planetside."

John shook his head. "Won't help."

Jack made another impatient gesture, asking why.

"Leviathans can sense wormholes," John replied to the silent question.

"Oh."

"You see my problem."

"Yeah." Jack keyed his radio. "Carter."

"Yes, sir," her voice came back.

"You and Daniel get a move on. I want you back at the gate ASAP. We'll meet you there."

"Define ASAP," Daniel said over his radio.

"Now, Daniel. We've got company."

"Acknowledged, sir. We're on our way."

As he settled his radio, O'Neill asked, "You got a plan?"

"Run like hell?" John replied. "It's always worked before." He shrugged. "We'll provide enough of a distraction, pull them away from the planet and you four can leave."

"We can get you and Aeryn out, too. We've got a safe location while we work on the Pentagon."

John squinted in the sunlight, choosing his next words. "Let me ask you something. Who is really running the show back home?"

"How do you mean?"

"Let's say I brought Rygel or Zhaan back with me. What would your people do?" When Jack didn't answer, John said, "That's what I thought."

"Technically speaking, they're not my people. But you're right. There are those that would use you for their own purpose in the name of national security."

"So, what would you do?"

Jack studied Crichton as they walked. Instead of answering his question, Jack said, "She's not going to like this, you know."

"To be honest, I'm not too happy with it either."

"You're taking it rather calmly."

"Yeah, but when I get back to Moya, I'm going to break something. Preferably something heavy. That dents a lot. Or shatters. Shattering is good."

"You could do what I do."

"Shoot things?"

"Big explosions always make me feel better."

"You sound like Aeryn."

"See, she'd do just fine on Earth."

"Shooting things?"

"It would give us something to do while you and Carter talked science stuff."

John raised an eyebrow, but let the comment slide. "Shooting things really helps?"

"Oh, yeah."

"I could shoot things."

Jack, John and Aeryn were waiting with Teal'c when Sam and Daniel arrived back at the 'gate carrying the rest of the team's supplies and research.

"You get everything?" Jack asked.

"Yes, Jack." Daniel did not look happy as Teal'c took one of the bags he was carrying and placed it in the MALP carrier. "Where's Zhaan?" he asked Crichton. "I wanted to ask her a few more things before we left."

"She's back at the transport pod with D'Argo. There's a Peacekeeper Leviathan headed this way. Based on Moya's most recent readings, it looks like it's headed for an orbit around the planet. They wouldn't be headed here unless they intended to put boots on the ground, so I think it's best we vamoose while we can."

"How long do we have?" Sam asked.

"Long enough to get you out of here."

Carter looked at her CO, wondering if he'd had a chance to fill John in on their plan. "You mean for all of us to get out of here."

Crichton ignored her comment. "O'Neill, you bring any C-4 with you?"

"Yeah."

"Blow it up."

Sam whipped her head around to stare at Crichton. "What?!"

"Blow. It. Up." John repeated. "Leviathans can sense wormholes. I don't know exactly who is up there, and I don't think it matters. That ship senses a wormhole on the planet's surface and Peacekeepers will come here."

"Even if they find it, can they figure our what it is and how it works?" Daniel asked.

"You did," John said pointedly.

"I had the basic knowledge – Egyptian language and mythology – to work it out. They don't."

"Do you really want to risk it? I don't know what all they have. I do know if they realize there is access to wormhole technology here, they'll do anything to get it."

"More reason to take you with us," Sam added.

John shook his head. "We don't have time to argue with the Pentagon."

"Not necessary. We send you to another friendly planet, and then we find a way to bring you home. We've got several options in mind."

"If I go through the gate, Scorpy will try to follow and then he'll know. Doesn't matter if I'm not here; doesn't matter if he can't follow us. He'll know and trust me, that's bad enough." John looked at Aeryn, who nodded, agreeing silently with his strategy. He continued, "We can't leave the Stargate intact. And you have to go through first. Ergo, you call it a day, Sammie, and I blow the thing sky high." He looked to O'Neill for confirmation.

Jack nodded once and said, "Not exactly what I had in mind for big explosions, but sounds like a plan to me."

Daniel jumped in. "Wait, Jack. We don't have to make two trips through the gate. We can all go to Cimmeria and then dial home from there."

"Moya can blow up the gate," Carter added.

"Moya doesn't have the firepower; it's got to be done from the ground."

"Alright then," Sam said, starting to get mad, "we'll set timers and blow it right before we go through."

"No. Sammie, it's a great plan. It might even work. But I'm not going to cool my heels on some random planet while your people figure out what to do with me. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt."

"What am I supposed to tell your father?"

"You mean, if you get to tell him anything? Tell him I'm fine. I miss him. I will find a way home. Better yet" He turned around, looking for something. Aeryn, a step ahead, held out a small stack of tapes and a tape recorder. John smiled his thanks, and handed the tapes to Sam. Holding up one finger, he pressed the record button on the little machine and spoke into it. "Hey, Dad. I'd hoped to give you this tape myself, but it looks like it's going to be a while before I get home. You won't believe all the stories I have to tell you. " He popped the tape out of the recorder and handed it to Sam. "Give these to him."

"John..."

"O'Neill, get her out of here. Carry her if you have to."

"We can all make it to the gate," Sam continued to argue.

"Let's go, Carter." She ignored her CO and he raised his voice slightly. "That's an order, Major." She almost knocked him flat with a look. Jack turned back to Crichton. "You need any help with the C-4?"

John shook his head. "We'll set it up as soon as you go through."

"You sure you'll have time to get out?"

"D'Argo's already on his way to get us – we'll have enough time."

"Alright then. Teal'c, let's get the explosives for our friends here. Daniel, dial the gate."

As her teammates moved to carry out O'Neill's orders, Sam picked up a bag from the pile she and Daniel had brought from the temple and held it out to John. "I had Daniel get a few things for you. I thought you could share them with your friends before we took you home."

John cupped her face in one hand. "It's okay, Sammie. It's not your fault."

She shrugged helplessly. "That doesn't make this any easier."

"Hey, I'm not giving up. Just you wait – one day you'll hear a knock on your door, and instead of the pizza guy, it'll be me." She laughed, and he wiped the single tear from her face. Taking the bag from her, he wrapped her in a hug. "Take care of yourself, Sammie."

Behind them, the gate opened. Sam gave John one last fierce squeeze. "Watch your six out here. Don't make me come back and find you." She stepped back and turned to Aeryn. "You're welcome - anytime." A look of understanding passed between the two women and Aeryn nodded.

Daniel and Teal'c, flanking the MALP, turned at the top of the steps. Daniel waved; Teal'c bowed, then they walked through the event horizon.

Jack shook Crichton's hand. "We'll leave the light on for you."

"I'll hold you to that," John replied.

"Alright, Major," O'Neill said to his 2IC, "Let's let these nice people blow this thing and get out of here." He headed up the steps.

Sam nodded, and with one last glance over her shoulder as she walked through the 'gate, saw John toss off a casual salute in her direction. She smiled and went home.