Disclaimer - hell no

Story's still mine, though

Jay - please make sure you read this somewhere soft, with no hard or sharp objects about!!

Drakcir - got a note from Oma Desala to say I could post later than usual as I had a few days off for my B'day, so please don't tell Ba'al!!!

Movielover3, Cathy, Col K O'Neill, Lori and everyone else (sorry if I missed anyone out, it's late and my fingers are heavy and thick with sleep) thanks for stopping by (and signing in if you did). xx

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Jonas felt Cassie's sudden panic envelop him as he chopped, busily, at a tomato; he lay down the knife and removed the glove from his hand. The eye opened with light and tiny spurts of energy flickered between his fingers. He looked down at his palm and focused his mind, he could not take them all out, his ability to expel his passions was not as strong as Cassandra's, but if he could just hold them off, for long enough, until help arrived.

He felt them close in, with cautious steps, around the cabin, their intent stimulating their emotions in a mix of blue, red and yellow flame. He balled his hand and worked his fingers as their adrenaline echoed like a sound bite through his body, feeding the tension rising inside his soul as he waited for them to make their move.

For once he wished the universe still echoed within him, still pumped his heart with its barometer of feelings. He wished he still had control of that immense power not for himself but to protect Cassie. He was not a fighter, a great warrior, he was a reader of people, able to experience the life recorded on their souls and their emotions. He was a gatherer of knowledge left by the touch of man on the objects from the past and the power he'd been given, the power the eye emitted was more for defensive purposes. This inner light was only a reflection of him, not freely given to harm, maim or kill but to understand and help.

He reached out to Cassie with his mind, trying not to let it jump with anxiety, to tell her to go, to run and hide.

He swallowed back his nerves; he should have known this was bound to happen? The Colonel had always warned him of the NID, how could he of been so stupid, so naive?

As he shook his head at his own lack of common sense a shadow travelled fleeting across the window, Jonas spun round letting off an edgy burst of energy that shattered the pane in a sparkle of noise.

He readied himself, turning slowly round, feeling the silence with his inner eye, trying to read the impending assault before it rushed him.

There was another crack of glass as something was thrown into the room. Jonas turned, quickly, to meet the noise and saw a device roll innocently across the floor at him. He immediately shielded his body with a film of light just as it splintered and filled the room with a blinding glow.

Jonas fell to his knees, his screen dissipating, his eyes burning with a golden glare, unable to see. He felt movement to the left of him and something fractured against his spine. He slumped to the floor, eyes trying to focus through the particles, which prickled his eyes like glowing embers of ash, as his attacker shoved an electrical charge into between his ribs.

Jonas grabbed blindly at the device trying to push the pulse back to his assailant but another NID officer came at him with a higher voltage that flipped his body, dazing him.

His mind became blurred and confused as he tried to get to his feet. Again, a slap of electricity stung him on his back making him spiral back down to the hardwood floor. His eyes wept acidic tears and through their heat he became aware of several pairs of watery boots surrounding him and voice shouting from somewhere in the distant but he couldn't make it out from the beating of his heart or the ringing in his ears.

Rough hands pulled him to his feet, slamming him to the wall, freeing the particles of charcoal into the air from the pan fire earlier. He felt something seep over his top lip and trickle into his mouth, leaving a familiar, bitter, taste on his tongue, blood, he thought, that can't be good.

A hand stung his face making him focus, "I said where is the girl?" A voice bellowed at him.

Jonas looked up at he ceiling, tears flooding his cheeks, aware of more heavy boots stampeding through the bedrooms. He sort out the owner of the voice, trying to blink his way back to reality. Another hand hit him in the face, splitting his lip, "where's the girl," the voice shouted, again, with anger.

He shut his eyes trying to reach Cassie with his mind, racing against the pain to make sure she was safe and far away. She was his only concern, now, and he wasn't going to let anyone hurt her ever again. Nirrti had already done her worst.

"What the hell's he doing?" Another voice fluctuated around him.

"They're telepathic, you fool, he's probably trying to warn her, so she can't be too far. Kennedy," the voice shouted to a figure near the stove, "go check outside, take Phillips with you and give me that thing."

Jonas felt another burst from the Goa'uld pain stick as it was pressed to his neck. He fought against its agonizing rush, which splintered through his nerves, trying to stay upright but his legs played traitor to his body.

He slumped back to the floor, trembling slightly as his heart quickened. He looked up into the tangled blue and green eyes of his tormentor who was dressed differently to the others, respectable in a tie and blue suit but the tapestry of his notable face was cold and full of indifference.

"That's better," he sneered, crouching down to touch Jonas's bruised cheek, examining his quarry with a lack of feeling.

"He don't look much like an alien, Dr Finch," the NID Major commented looking down at Jonas.

"That's because, Reynolds, he was cloned from a human host, but don't let that fool you he's a very powerful individual, aren't you Mr Quinn."

Jonas remained silent, drawing on his inner strength, quietly rolling his fingers into his palm to generate a current of energy.

The man continued, "let me introduce myself to you, Jonas, may I call you Jonas?" he asked, brushing some dust from the alien's shoulder, "Of course I can, seeing as we're going to become such good friends. I'm Doctor Jeremiah Finch of the National Intelligence Division, I'm sure you've heard of us? I've been waiting to a long time to meet you and of course, the lovely Cassandra."

"He don't seem to be responding, there, Doc," Reynolds observed.

"Oh, he's in there all right, aren't you Jonas, he's just playing possum, I reckon," Finch leered and pulled out a small torch which he shone into the Kelownan's eyes. "Now if you'd just tell me where the girl is, I won't have to hurt you again, hm?"

Jonas stayed dumb, blinking against the light, causing the Doctor's face to twist into a frown. Finch made two fingers from his hand and placed them against the young man's neck. Jonas reacted quickly, clamping his left hand on the Doctor's bony wrist, expelling the dregs of energy he had managed to gather in the respite. The fragile fingers of brittle light weaved along Finch's arm, jumping to the metal fillings in his teeth, causing his head and body to jolt back at the injection of pain.

Major Reynolds acted on impulse and a heartbeat, jerking into action, firing a single shot from his handgun before Jonas could stand. The bullet connected with accuracy, tunnelling its way into the flesh and bone of the Kelownan's shoulder, knocking the alien back against the wall with the violence of the collision.

The Major then moved in closer, rotated the heated barrel against the prisoner's forehead, daring him with bulging eyes wide with the buzz of adrenaline, "Doc," he demanded, eyes and gun fixed on Jonas, "you okay."

Finch got to his feet, his body pumping with anger and purpose as he strode across the injured Kelownan. He crouched back down, his eyes connecting with the Jonas's obstinate gaze and smiled with intimidating lips as he pushed his thumb into the newly formed hole. "Major, call Kennedy and Phillips back I have a feeling Miss Fraiser will come to us."

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The peaceful sky sailed with clouds and a crown of olive, emerald and lime leaves weaved a canopy that conducted the breeze.

The old woman hid in the shade, a harden statue of shadows as her lover's pain surged through her, his unguarded distress tormenting her core turning it black and shiny with vengeance.

Her hostile eyes reflected the fire that was smouldering with wrath and hatred, arousing the unruly, darker, emotions trapped in her inner light, freeing their beast until the sky leaden and became her canvass, combusting in a sinister anger and skewering the earth.

She looked down at her trembling hands and watched them corrugate with age, her fury corroding what little life she had left to feed the wild demon of her power.

She heard him call her name, lost and faint in its suffering but the regular beat of her heart wouldn't listen. There was only the rush of blood flowing through her ears, screaming in loathing at those who would hurt the tender creature that had blessed her with his love and she wanted retribution.

Cassie crossed the open expanse toward the cabin, with primitive steps, fuelled by the raw emotion that also brewed around her in a harrowing storm of portent.

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Jonas felt Cassie's sunless journey creep through his anguish with mournful fingers of ebony and marble. He sort her mind through his torment, to calm the rhythm of her rage but its savaged monster had devoured her understanding leaving an absence of light.

"Sir there's some old broad coming towards the cabin," Kennedy remarked as he hovered at the window noting the sudden change in the weather.

Finch smiled down at Jonas and wiped the alien's blood from his hand on the discarded towel Jonas had used earlier, "watch him," he motioned to Reynolds and went over to join Kennedy. He narrowed his eyes at the approaching figure, "is it her sir?" Kennedy asked, readying his weapon.

The Doctor held his hand up with prudence; unsure if this old woman, advancing through the squall, was the girl they were seeking. He looked back at the Kelownan, who had melted into an unconscious state, blood dripping from the wound in his shoulder. "I don't know," Finch replied honestly, his breath furring the window pane, "but let's be ready," he commanded.

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Cassandra narrowed her eyes, sensing their futile attempt to prepare for her arrival in the lick of the air surrounding her. She stopped in front of the wooden steps, the wind spitefully kicking up a swirl of dust, veiling her in its tyranny. She inhaled deeply as sporadic sparks of energy violently lashed out from her body, assimilating the tempest of the heavens.

Every window of the building exploded as a fist of air punched the glass to gain access. The NID were thrown to the floor as an invisible force tackled them in confrontation. They tried to stand but a silent whirlwind pushed itself into the confines of the room, pinning them to the ground, pinching brutally at their flesh and stealing the breath from their lips with its cruel kiss.

The door swung open and there burning with power and malice stood Cassandra, her eyes glowing an incensed, blood, red and her once gentle face twisted with cruelty.

The air curled back to her body causing her wispy, grey, hair to fan in its journey. A frenzy of destructive light shafts warped from her body and thrashed through the room, charring the scattered furniture with their touch.

"Hello boys," she spat, "looking for me?"

The energy tendrils arced and spread about, searching for their prey, coiling around the fallen NID officers and lifting them, with an ill will, into the air.

The binding light cut through their clothes, burning their skin with its heat, spreading into small, teasing fingers that stung them with rage as it criss-crossed their bodies. They screamed out in agony as Cassie manipulated them like drunken puppets, as they struggled against their doom, her energy surging through their every vein and blood vessel in spikes of venomous pain and death.

Jonas opened his eyes, the NID's suffering clawing at his heart. He tried to reach out to Cassie, to save her, to save them, but her mind was preoccupied with hatred and murder. He stood up and awkwardly crossed the room laying a tender hand on her shoulder. Cassie spun round, startled, a residue of pent up energy snapping from her, flaring with uncontrollable anger into the Kelownan's chest, sending him flying through the open door.

Time stopped, the air became still, Cassie froze becoming aware of her own breathing. The room turned and the turmoil inside her scattered into vapours as she took control of her soul. The NID fell, twisted, to the floor, their eyes varnished with death.

A tremor ran through her aged body as she turned to focus on the still form, face up, in the dirt outside.

Emotion grabbed at her throat, strangling her with its grip while her feet of clay stumbled out into the daylight.

She fell down beside him, biting at her lip for the pain, pressing her ear to his motionless chest and began to cry.

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I know it was a bit longer, hope you're still with me.

Take care, until the next window..

:o)