I blinked back the tears as Will told me to get back to the Stargate, ready for when Earth contacted us. We'd found another two bodies, and it was up to me to report back to the SGC. I can't be seen crying. Even though women in the Air Force are no longer normally subjected to any harassment, we're still a minority by far. And we can't show weaknesses. I've just been informed that as I'm the 2IC of SG-2, it's up to me to inform home of the latest developments, and Lord knows I don't want to. The chevrons began to move as I neared, and the event horizon formed and settled as I reached the MALP.
"This is Colonel Frakes at the SGC calling SG-2 or SG-9. Please respond."
Gulping, I pressed the transmit button on my radio. "This is Major Reeves of SG-2. I'm receiving you Colonel."
There was a slight pause and I mentally prepared myself for the question that was coming, and the answer that I would have to give. Christ, I'm in the military; I shouldn't be flinching at death. But there's something so different about having your comrades die in an attack on an alien world. I know it wouldn't be any easier if they'd died in a terrorist attack back on Earth, but there's just something about this attack. Maybe it's because we all finally thought that the Goa'uld threat was finally over, and we'd be able to travel throughout the Stargate without fear.
"What's new over there?"
"We've recovered another two bodies," I replied, my heart heavy. "Major Jamieson and Captain Payne, both of SG-1." It's always harder when one of the deceased was your friend, as Adele Jamieson was. We had been at the Academy together and had both trained as pilots. Now she was dead, and I was the one having to report finding her body back to the authorities. I had been the one to find the corpse; sheltering that of the younger captain. Even in death she took the responsibilities of being 2IC seriously; trying to protect her team to the end.
"Visual confirmation?" Frakes asked. Standard operating procedure - just because the dog tags state one name doesn't necessarily mean that it's that person. The SGC has had that problem before off-world - been informed that a team is dead, but when the bodies come through the gate, it turns out that they're not actually the people we sent out.
"Yes sir, by myself for Major Jamieson and by Lieutenant Price of SG-9 for Captain Payne," I confirm. "SG-9 are preparing the bodies to return through the gate, while the rest of SG-2 are still searching. Another Tollan and two more Tok'ra have been discovered." Where as we'd only recovered the bodies of three of our personnel, the latest discoveries meant that the Tollan have recovered seven of theirs while the Tok'ra had found five. There were still over thirty bodies not yet recovered - twelve of them being ours.
"Understood Major," Frakes replied. "Both teams should return through the gate as soon as possible. You've got an hour and a half before the memorial service."
"Yes sir," I gulp. "Reeves out." The blue event horizon flickers and disappears, leaving behind the unassuming metal ring. I've worked at the SGC for three years now, and this is the first time that I wish that I wasn't part of the team. It's a time where ignorance is bliss, and when I look at a page of military obituaries, only meaningless names stare back at me; not the names of my former base commander; my fellow officers; my friends. Pressing the call button on my radio, it's time to remind my commanding officer and SG-9 that it's time to go home. "Major Reeves to Lieutenant Colonel Dawson."
There's a brief pause before the strained voice of William Dawson comes through. When it became obvious that another team was going to have to go through the gate, it was clear to anyone that he wasn't going to let them go without him. Everyone on base knew how close he and the CO of SG-15 were, although only their two teams knew just how close.
"Go ahead Major."
"We've been ordered to return to the SGC," I informed him. I couldn't bring myself to remind him what for; it wasn't as if any of us could forget the event that would be happening in only a few hours.
"Understood Hallie. We're on our way back. Dawson out." His voice was just so lifeless it was heartbreaking. I knew that he'd barely slept, barely eaten since the attack, and the length of the search was slowly killing him. I only hoped that when we found Lieutenant Colonel Owen I'd be close enough to give him some support. He was there for me the previous year when my brother was killed in a car accident, and knew that it was up to me to be a good 2IC and a good friend and get him through this.
The seven figures of the rest of my team and SG-9 came into view, and I began to dial home, trying not to think about the two stretchers that they were carrying between them. I was so immersed in my routine duties; dial the gate, send the GDO code that I jumped when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up into the pale, sunken face of my CO and just wished that there were something I could do to help.
"All set Major?" he asked.
"Yes sir," I automatically replied, stepping forward. Together, we stepped through the Stargate to return home, taking two of our fallen comrades to their final resting-place.
