When Mrs Patrick came with a note in the middle of my geography class that I was to go to Doctor Richardson's office immediately, I was as puzzled as hell. I hadn't done anything that warranted her pulling me out of class. Or at least, not without Paul and James being summoned too.

And then I met Caitlin coming from the other way, and I just wondered where she was off too; it never occurred to me that she was going to see Doctor Richardson as well. But even when I knew that her location was the same as mine, I never figured that it would be mom and dad. We walked to find Janet and Sammy already sitting there. Now that just struck me as odd. Why the hell would Janet want to see us and Sammy, and why was it so important that she had to disrupt our classes?

Then she started to go on about the Triumvirate. Yeah, we knew that's where mom and dad had gone; they went yesterday, and were due back tomorrow at 1400. If they had been delayed then surely Janet would have waited until we got home, or just phoned a message in?

Now, looking back, I could kick myself for being so dense. Guess it's never been a problem for us - they normally never go off world, except maybe to the Tok'ra or Tollan worlds, or maybe Chulak. It's not often that they need the base commander of SGC or head of the science advisory board, or whatever mom's title is (!) to go off world anymore. And the fact that they were just there for negotiations. I think that's the bit that I couldn't comprehend. The Triumvirate was meant to be about us and our allies working together, to ensure all of our futures, now that the 'false gods' have been destroyed. And as flippant as this sounds, guess they missed one.

I don't think it's sunk in yet. Mostly I'm thinking about what we're going to do now. Or more specifically, what Janet's going to do now. Mom and dad named her and Daniel as our legal guardians should anything happen to them. Obviously didn't think that anything would happen to Daniel either, and why should they? He's not military, and even if he does work with the archaeological and anthropological finds of the Stargate teams, dad always said that he was like a cat with nine lives. Unfortunately, nine didn't seem to be enough. So that means that Janet's gonna have to look after six of us - by herself, unless Cassie helps. I've only got another year and a half 'til graduation though, and Caitlin's got another two and a half, but that still leaves the other four. Plus the fact that both Cat and I are gonna go onto college or university. And all she's got is her Air Force salary, and three Air Force pensions to support us on. I know I shouldn't be worrying about money, but I'm the oldest of the O'Neill family now. And boy does that sound weird. Weird and wrong. I'm only sixteen - I shouldn't be the oldest.

Okay - so this officially sucks. Both my parents are MIA, due to a highly secretive facility hidden in a mountain. I know it's only going to be a matter of a few hours, maybe days, before -presumed dead, is added at the end of their status. And then next week, we'll have their memorial service. People are going to stand up, and say nice things about them, even though they didn't know them that well. And you know why not? Because with the exception of Janet, all their close friends are now dead: Daniel, Teal'c, Uncle George and Grandpa Jacob. And our Uncle Mark doesn't actually have clearance enough to attend the service. Don't know what we're going to tell him - mom and dad are MIA in a mountain! God, I'm being flippant now, but that's the only level at which my brain is operating at the moment now. I've always been told that I'm like my dad - especially with my sense of humour. Cat's always been more like mom - what with the science and stuff. Hadn't really classified the twins yet - they're both smart and mischievous, but that could be either of our parents, despite what dad always says... said.

It just seems so strange referring to them in the past tense. But I don't think that it's gonna get any easier anytime soon.