Author's Note: I'm sorry about the long wait, it wasn't intentional. I was having a problem with formatting this chapter, a real headache. That, combined with school and the other story I'm trying to do, it just took a long time to get ready for posting. But, here you are. Enjoy and please R/R.

Summary: While in the grips of a Gou'ald, who will help SG-1? And why?

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Chapter Nine:

Unexpected Visits

With a sway of his elaborate cloak, a tall, skinny man walked right past a small group of Jaffa without a second thought- his own Jaffa escort following behind him. For a minute, they walked through the maze of halls before reaching the door they were looking for.

Pressing the control button with an unusual flare, the door opened without hesitation. Within only a few seconds, the cell behind the door could be seen. Not to mention the moan of Jack O'Neill saying, "You've gotta be kidding me!"

Ignoring him with ease, the tall man addressed Jacob by saying, in a deep, computerized voice, "Selmak, it is a pleasure to see you once again."

Jacob turned almost immediately to see who owned the voice he had heard. With a flourish, Jacob's head boded for a second before he raised it to show his eyes glowing yellow. "It is a pleasure to see you as well, Tanik."

"Uh, guys. You know, this may seem like a stupid comment but, should you really be talking like old buddies with them here?" Jack asked sarcastically as he pointed a finger at the Jaffa guard. The door had closed the moment they entered and no one else would be able to hear, but they still could.

"We are Rebel Jaffa. Free of the false gods. We serve the Tok'ra and Tau'ri… working to free the rest of our people," the lead Jaffa stated, his voice deep and proud. With a respectful nod to Teal'c, he said, "We follow Tanik's orders and not Horus's."

Teal'c nodded in return but said nothing for there was nothing to be said. But Jack had something he wanted clarified, "Ok, that's all fine and dandy but… why are you telling us this?"

Tanik turned and looked at the vocal O'Neill. "We are telling you this because we must get you out of here. I have fulfilled my mission. I have the notes on the virus Horus has been making; the lab is destroyed. I merely wish to take you with me. You will not survive much longer if you do not get out."

"Oh, well that works… out."

In the corner sat the unnoticed Jesse. While everyone had turned their attention to the men who had just entered, he had slid further and further away. It was strange and painful enough with three people in there who caused the strange feeling. But, now, there were tons. It was like being back in that other room, filled to the brink with symbiotes.

But, there was no running from them. No running from any of them. And, what was worse, was seeing and hearing his grandfather's voice change like that. Change to make him sound just like the Gou'ald. Like all of the Gou'ald. Like the one that seemed to be helping them.

"Come. We must go now." Jesse heard the man- Tanik, as he had been introduced- tell the room. But Jesse didn't want to go with them. He wasn't ever sure that he could stand much less escape with them.

Finally being noticed by someone, Daniel said, "Are you all right, Jesse?" Jesse turned his frightened blue eyes toward Daniel. It was as if he could stare straight into his soul with his lost, innocent eyes.

"Jesse?" Sam asked, seeing him cuddled in the corner. "It's all right, I promise," she told him, knowing it must have been exhausting feeling so many symbiotes in one area. She remembered being over-whelmed by it as well.

Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Jesse tried to reminded himself that his parents trusted them and he should as well. It was just… the feeling they caused was terrifying. And a horrible remembrance of what happened the last time he was with Jones. When his eyes opened again, they were more distant, but willing to cooperate with the man.

"We should go now. Before Horus finds out that I am here," Tanik told them. "Can the boy walk?"

Jesse looked at him, his eyes holding no emotion. Slowly but steadily, he pushed his body up using the side of the walls. When his feet were flat on the ground, he went to take a step but failed. Falling into the arms of his father, Jack helped him back up but did not remove his supportive hand.

At a slower pace than Tanik or anyone else would have liked, they made their way through the halls and toward the Ring Room. Passing only a few Jaffa on the way, they were not questioned nor did the Jaffa seem to notice for more than a second.

Once inside the desired room, Jesse and the bunch stepped onto the platform and watched as the room they had been standing in disappear before their eyes. Milliseconds later, a large, green forest appeared in front of them. Five Jaffa guard still laid there, dead because of SG-1.

"There are five Jaffa standing guard at the Stargate. I'll tell them that Horus ordered me to take you somewhere. Hopefully they wouldn't notice the address," Tanik told them.

"If they do?" Jack asked, his arm still protectively wrapped around Jesse's still weak body.

"They will be killed," he stated, his voice expressionless.

Without another word, he began walking toward the Stargate, the Jaffa following his and telling SG-1 to follow. Maintaining the disguise that they were still prisoners of Horus, they approached the Jaffa without a single thought of it.

Tanik immediately approached the DHD but was stopped by one of the Jaffa. "What are you doing?" He asked in a deep, commanding voice.

"Horus has ordered me to take the prisoners to his other base. And I am doing so. Would you like to explain to your god why you are interrupting his orders?" Tanik said in his most intimidating voice he could muster.

"No," the Jaffa backed down.

"Then get out of my way." The Jaffa complied and allowed him to begin dialing up the correct address.

The Jaffa, who had been paying more attention than they would have liked, stated, "Those are not the correct symbols."

But, before he and his men could respond, the other Jaffa already had their staff weapons charged and firing at them. Easily, the other five Jaffa fell to the ground, as dead as the others at the rings.

Tanik continued his dialing as if nothing had happened. With a push of the center button, the Stargate whooshed open and left a blue puddle in the center of the gigantic ring. Moving from his place at the DHD, he walked up the three stairs and stood in front of the 'gate's mouth.

"This isn't Earth's address, I take it?" Daniel asked, who had noticed his never used a GDO.

"No, the alpha site. They have a GDO so you can get back to your planet. But we must hurry. Before anyone notices something is wrong." With that, SG-1, Jesse, Jacob, and the other Jaffa hurried up the stairs and through the Stargate, followed closely by Tanik.

**Alpha Cite**

The moment the strange, tingly feeling that the Stargate creates, Jesse found himself, not in the SGC nor on the other planet but, somewhere he had never been. It was barren and dusty but there were woods out in the distance. Right past the encampment that had been put up next to the Stargate.

Jesse was helped down off of the platform by the help of his father. After his experience through the Stargate, his legs were complete rubber. Not to mention his stomach was reeling. He just wanted to collapse on his bed and fall asleep for a year. And some food. He was starving despite his upset stomach.

Jack's hand had tightened increasingly around Jesse's waist, supporting him more than he had before. He felt Jesse's body slumping more and more into his as he became too weak to support himself.

As they moved closer to the settlement, Jesse was beginning to feel the pressure and sickening feeling grow in the pit of his stomach. He wished that he could somehow escape it; escape the memory it provoked. But he never would, he knew.

Slowly, the buzz of Jaffa life began to hit their ears as they grew even closer to tents and makeshift buildings. Fires blazed as their meals were being prepared. Jesse could vaguely smell the meat cooking but wasn't sure with the smell of hundreds of smelly, unwashed Jaffa and dust.

Night was already settling on the strange, new planet. From the looks of things, Jesse would assume that it was around dinnertime on Thursday. He would give anything for a huge dinner and a good night's sleep.

With a quick nod from Tanik, Jesse watched as the five Jaffa walked off and joined some of the other inhabitants. Finally understanding that these Jaffa were good, allies of Earth, he relaxed a bit more. And even more when Teal'c joined a young, dark skinned boy. He was around Jesse's age, perhaps fifteen. His hair was short and allowed easy viewing of the black tattoo on his head in the same shape as Teal'c's.

Watching them embrace from the corner of his eye, Jack lead Jesse away from the reunion and helped him settle down on the ground in front of a small bonfire. The acute smell of flames, ash, and spices filled his nostrils. Smoke burned his eyes and seared his lungs for a moment before the wind shifted and forced the smoke away from him.

Listening to the steady hum of talking in the background, Jesse's weary eyes focus on the cracking noises the fire created as sparks flew. With a red glow bathed on his face, his eyelids slowly drooped until closed and his head bobbed on his chest. Before he knew it, his mind was shut down to any and all thoughts.

Waking up to unfamiliar surrounds had become the norm for Jesse. When his blue eyes opened, still clouded with sleep, his mind did not take much time trying to decipher where he was.

Once he managed to sit up, the wool blanket, that had covered him through the night, fell to his lap. Looking down at it, he saw that it was quiet colorful and must have taken some time to make.

Looking up at the walls and ceiling, he assumed that he was inside one of the tents. No one else was in there that he saw, just unmade or made beds. Clothing was hung on the walls here and there while other personal belongings seemed scattered around the room.

The gentle movement of material hit Jesse's ears and he turned to look at it. A young woman walked in, one not must older than eighteen. She had long dark hair placed hurriedly in a braid and her forehead, too, was seen with a strange tattoo on it. But, unlike the boy he had seen the other day, hers was not like Teal'c's. Instead it was more like a hawk of some sort.

She smiled at him when she saw that he was awake. "I see you've finally awaken." Jesse smiled at her voice. Though her looks were ragged and the place she lived in not much better, her voice was musical and optimistic. Perhaps that was the only thing keeping her alive through everything.

"Yes," Jesse said weakly through his dry throat.

"I brought you this," she said, gesturing to the dish she held in her hands. "It's some of this morning's breakfast. I thought you might be hungry after all you've been through." At Jesse's inquisitive look, she added, "I like to listen to the Tau'ri. They always tell stories of something interesting and adventure. I listened again last night."

As she spoke, she drew closer to Jesse, who was still sitting on his mattress. Kneeling down next to him, she handed the plate over to him. He graciously accepted and began to eat whatever it was with his bare hands.

The food looked like strange, raw meat, but Jesse was hungry enough that he'd eat anything. Shoving the first bit into his mouth, he found that it wasn't that bad. In fact, it tasted like chicken.

"Tastes like chicken," Jesse commented as he put another, larger piece into his mouth.

"What is chicken?" The woman asked, amused at Jesse's behavior as he devoured the food.

Stopping for a moment, he looked at her and remembered that she was not native to Earth. "Right. It's… it's an animal we hunt on my planet. They have good meat and their eggs are edible."

"They are a good source of food then?"

"Yes," he told her, placing another strip of meat in his mouth. After swallowing, he again stopped and said, "I'm acting rude. I don't even know your." Sticking out his hand, Jesse said, "Jesse O'Neill, and you are?"

The woman looked down at his hand for a long moment before putting her own hand out, mimicking his but leaving it about an inch from his palm. "Sel'ac."

Jesse smiled and told her hand in his before saying, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Sel'ac continued to look at their hands, confused by the gesture. Releasing her hand, Jesse explained, "It's called a handshake. A human custom."

"Human? Oh, you mean Tau'ri."

Now it was Jesse's turn to be confused. "What's a Tau'ri?"

"You are," Sel'ac said, bewildered that he didn't know such a thing.

"I am? You mean, Humans. It's like… another name for them?"

"Exactly."

"I'm new at this whole… Stargate, aliens thing. You'll have to bare with me," Jesse said, his choice of words another bewilderment for Sel'ac.

After a pause, in which Jesse took another bit of his breakfast, he asked, "Not to be rude, but you wouldn't happen to have any water would you?"

Sel'ac nodded and took a strap off of her neck. Handing it to him, he recognized it as a canteen of sorts. It was U-shaped and he assumed held more water. Unscrewing the cap, he tipped it into his mouth, gulping down as much as he could.

Moving it away from his mouth, he put the cap back on and gave it back. "Thank-you."

"I thought you might need some," she told him with a smile. He wasn't sure if it was about his behavior or something else.

"You're very thoughtful."

At that moment, Colonel O'Neill chose to make his appearance. The door of the tent was pulled back and he looked inside. "Jesse?"

"Yea, I'm awake," he responded.

Jack walked in slowly and saw a Jaffa woman sitting with him as he ate, what looked like, the breakfast. "We're almost ready to go. How ya doin'?"

Jesse nodded and said, "I'm ok."

"Think you can stand?" As if testing the idea, he pushed the covers off his body and tried to stand. His feet were wobbly and unsure, but he was standing. Taking a few slow steps toward his father, he nodded.

"Alright. Come on then," Jack watched as he turned toward the woman.

"It was nice to meet you. I hope we see each other again," Jesse said with a polite grin. "Thank-you for the food."

"It was my pleasure. And I hope to see you again as well."

With a wave, Jesse made his way to his father, each step a tiring strain. Finally making it to the door, Jack allowed him to put some of his weight onto him as the two walked toward the Stargate.

Once at the massive piece of technology, Jesse saw that their Jaffa escort was not there with them but Tanik was. He and Jacob were engaged in some sort of discussion, their voices deep and computerized. Jesse decided to not even try to listen to the gibberish. Instead, his eyes turned to watch the inner ring of the Stargate spin.

The process took only a minute or two, but it was enough to entertain his exhausted mind for a while. The swoosh of the wormhole frightened him only a fraction of what it had the first time, but he still jumped slightly in his father's arms.

Watching his mother, Daniel, and then Teal'c disappear into the shimmering blue liquid, his grandfather made his way there after concluding the discussion with the other Tok'ra. At the same time, his father slowly helped him up the four stone steps.

For the third time in his life, Jesse stepped through the Stargate's wormhole and exited somewhere new. This time, though, it was at least familiar. He was finally on Earth. At the SGC. And almost home.

Though stranger than he was the previous day, Jesse still felt his legs crumble from beneath him and his arm tighten around his father. Jack, for his part, clutched just that much tighter in anticipation of just that.

"Stand down," Jesse could hear General Hammond say. After, he noticed the dozen or so guards lower their weapons accordingly.

"SG-1, Jacob… Jesse, welcome back," Hammond greeted them, relief and joy written on his tired features.

"General," Jack replied as he helped Jesse down the ramp. At the same time, the others filed off and began to swarm around Hammond.

"I should head back," Jacob stated, more to Hammond and himself than anyone else. The moment those words graced Jesse's ears, he felt his sprits fall. He had hoped to have just a moment with his grandfather. A real moment. He hadn't seen him in so long. Or, at least, his grandfather.

Seeing this, Sam piped up by saying, "Maybe you could stay at my place for a day or so. Mark's coming by on Friday, I'm sure he'd love to see you."

Looking over his daughter, Jacob's eyes glanced quickly at his newfound grandson. He could see the hope his answer would be yes.

Giving in, Jacob stated in defeat, "Alright, I'll stay. But I do have to go back some day." Both Sam and Jesse smiled with relief.

"Alright, mister, let's get you to Janet," Jack said, helping Jesse to begin moving again. "The rest of you should get cleaned up."

"It's the guy's turn in there first. Remember. I'll take him," Sam reminded her CO. Putting his sore, tired arm around Sam's neck; he released his firm hold on Jack.

"Are you sure?" The Colonel asked, his own arm loosening when he saw that Sam had a good hold on him.

"Yea. I can manage," she told him with one of her priceless smiles.

"Ok. Come on, you guys." With that, Jack, Teal'c, and Daniel followed by her father, marched out of the room. The two of them started their decent toward the infirmary only a moment later.

For a while, they stumbled through the long halls filled with armed guards and other Air Force and Marine officers. After some time, they walked through the door of Janet's infirmary. By then, Jesse had assured Sam that he didn't need her help and could walk on his own, only using her to steady himself once or twice.

When Janet saw his condition, she immediately had him lay down on one of the beds. A nurse came over to give Sam her post-mission physical while Janet worked with Jesse. Looking him over, she pulled out her flashlight and looked in his eyes.

"Follow my finger," she told him, her voice kind and welcoming. Moving it to the sides and then up and down, he followed it easily. Scribbling down a few notes, Janet looked him in the eyes and saw his control and blocks breaking down.

Forgetting his physical for a moment, she took a stool and sat next to him. "What happened, Jesse?" She asked, her voice open and inviting.

For a minute, Jesse didn't know how to answer. After starring down at his hands, he finally broke down and allowed tears to roll down his cheeks. "They put… one of those things in me."

Those simple words were enough to make Janet's blood pump hard. The idea of one being put in anyone she knew was enough to make her furious. But, what was worse, she had no idea if it was still there. Adrenal streamed through her blood but his next words and tears calmed her enough to not send him straight to get a MRI.

"I was sick for a while in the prison cell. My mom said that I had a high fever for a while. And she said I was delusional. I didn't tell them. That I had one inside of me. I don't it's there any more. I think it's gone. Dead, maybe."

"You didn't tell them?"

"No," Jesse stated, dumbly, as he continued to stare at the bed. "I was sick most of the time. I didn't know how to tell them after. They were weary enough around me."

Janet nodded and said, "Well I have to finish your physical. And… just incase, I'll need to do another MRI." Putting her hands under his chin and feeling around, she marked more notes on the pad and continued her examine of him.

Putting a thermometer in his mouth, she began getting ready to take his blood pressure. After a minute, the petite doctor removed the thermometer and checked the reading. Marking it down on the paper before taking his BP.

After doing a few other things Jesse didn't pay attention to- besides the shot she gave him in the arm and taking some blood- Janet said, "Alright, time for the MRI." Jesse nodded and forced himself off of the bed. With a fear shaking in his core, he walked with as much dignity he could muster as he struggled to keep his balance.

Looking at the offensive piece of technology he had already been in once or twice, he sighed and got on the long board. Agonizingly slow, the board was retracted until it hit the back. Noises and lights began to go off. His heart rate climbed as he bit back his groundless fear of the thing.

For what seemed like years, he remained in the machine, wishing for it to be over. Finally, the noises stopped and he was brought out of the machine. With a sigh of relief he hopped down and walked with the nurse out of the small, isolated room without feeling his legs slowly turning back to jelly.

As Janet rounded the corner to make it to Jesse's bed, she saw Sam leave and the other members of SG-1 walked in. Looking to see Jesse sitting silently on the bed, she noticed for the first time his ragged appearance.

He was obviously tired and exhausted- physically, mentally, and emotionally- from everything that's been happening to him. But there was also his clothing. They were torn and tattered, along with dirty and smelly. She could see that all this kid needed was a bath, some food, and a good night's sleep, not all the tests.

"Come on, kid." Jesse looked up at the sound of Janet's voice and saw that she meant him. Hopping off of the short bed the nurse had instructed him to wait at, he walked up to her and felt her wrap an arm around him shoulder.

"Colonel?"

"Yes, doc?"

"If you swear to come back tomorrow, I'll release you to take Jesse home." Jesse looked up at the pretty doctor before looking back at his father. He was clearly shocked he was even given the option. But, the moment he looked at Jesse, he nodded immediately.

"Alright. I'll be here by… noon," Jack promised and walked his charge to the door.

"You better!" Janet called back as the two turned the corner. With a shake of her head, she went about her work.

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Hoped you like it- and review even though you must hate me for holding out so long. So how do you like it so far? Also, the woman Jaffa Jesse met at the Alpha Cite will end up playing- in a way- a large role later. Can anyone guess what?