Title: Somewhere in Between

Author: Katchu

Author's note: This story is going to be very long, hence the chapters are long. Sorry it took me so long to post.

Chapter 2

Katie woke up and found herself lying in a bed. She tried to sit up but the pain was still too great. She looked down and realized that she had a sling on her right arm. A woman rushed over to her side. It took her a moment to realize it was Dr. Fraser.

-Easy now. Don't try to move yet.

Katie looked around and saw that she was in the infirmary. She tried to speak but her throat was dry and her voice cracked. Jonas handed her a glass of water. She took it and gulped it down. Looking around the room she saw her dad in a far corner, as if he was trying to hide, afraid to get too close to her. She took a deep breath and finally spoke.

-I'm thinkin' C.

Her dad suddenly bolted out of the corner, then slowed as he approached her bed. It was as if her words drew him out and broke whatever spell he was under. For a moment his eyes filled with tears. There was unguarded emotion in them, joy. Then, as if it had never happened, the tears were replaced by that cold, calculating, confusing stare.

-Who are you?

His voice was intense, demanding. She fought back tears.

-Dad, it's me, Katie.

But apparently the name meant nothing to him. He slowly backed towards the corner and turned into Jonas.

-I'm thinkin we're not gonna make it home in time for the big game.

Jonas smiled. Only Jack...

-I think you're right.

-You wouldn't by any chance mean the Canuks vs. Wild hockey game would you?

Jack and Jonas both gasped and turned to stare at Katie. Jack was so shocked he couldn't speak, so Jonas did.

-How did you know that?

-It was only the biggest game of the last century. I'd hate to have you miss it on account of me.

-You didn't answer my question.

-I know because I've already seen it, and I'm tellin' you it's a great game.

-How is that possible?

-Well you see it's really quite simple. Dad and Tex are good friends with one of the players and he got us tickets.

-Who's Tex?

Jack breathed a sigh of relief when General Hammond finally arrived. This girl, she was really freaking him out.

Katie's eyes widened when she saw who had asked the question.

-You are.

-I'm sorry, but you're mistaken. My name is General George Hammond.

She gave a little laugh.

-I know that. Tex is my nickname for you.

-What are you talking about?

She gulped, her eyes growing wide.

-You don't know me...none of you do. But I....but this is...

-The infirmary at the SGC in Cheyenne Mountain, and I'd like to know how you got here.

-That makes two of us.

-Three actually.

General Hammond and Katie both turned to glare at Jack.

-I just wanted to clarify.

Jonas had been staring at Katie ever since she arrived. She looked so familiar, but he just couldn't place her.

-You know, she looks really familiar. Maybe we should talk to Major Carter.

Jack cringed. Was it possible that Jonas had figured out what Jack had already guessed? Oh, he felt a headache coming on!

General Hammond and Katie looked at Jonas questioningly.

-Major Carter can always figure this sort of thing out.

-Well, unfortunately Major Carter has left already to visit her brother, so we'll just have to figure this out on our own.

Jack breathed a humongous sigh of relief.

-Is there a problem, Colonel?

-No sir, no problem. You know what I think. I'm gonna go down and grab something to eat. Anybody want anything? Jonas, uh Katie?

-I'll take a banana.

-Me too.

-Um, OK. Two bananas coming up. Anything else?

-I could use a beer.

Jack's eyes widened as he stared at Katie.

-Um, or not.

-How old are you? You know what, I don't wanna know. I'm just gonna pretend you didn't say that. How 'bout some coffee instead?

-I guess that'll have to do.

-Um, yeah.

Jack walked out the door and down the hallway, shaking his head at the young girl who had mysteriously appeared, and he had a feeling, was going to stick around.

Jonas decided that it was time he introduced himself to Katie. He smiled at her.

-Hi, my name's Jonas Quinn.

He offered his hand.

-Katie O'Neill.

She grasped his hand strongly, but was looking at him queerly. Once more he couldn't help but think that she looked familiar. Something in the eyes, in the handshake. He looked at her with an inquisitive, puzzling smile that suggested both irritation and eagerness at the same time. Irritation because there was something he didn't know, and eagerness to learn what it was.

-What's the matter? Why are you looking at me like that?

- You're Jonas Quinn... and he's General Hammond ...and this is SGC...and you're all so ...young.

-Young?

She nodded.

-Yah. If I had to guess I'd say about ten years younger.

-What?

-It's just a guess though.

He got this perplexed look on his face and she realized that he wasn't much different than she remembered.

-So... where's Karis?

-What?! Karis?! You mean my sister?!

-Um, I'll take that to mean that she's not here?

-I haven't seen Karis in over a year.

-Hmm. This is freakishly, insanely weird.

-I know exactly how you feel.

Jonas and Katie turned to stare at Jack, who came walking back into the room chomping noisily on an apple.

-Here are your bananas, and your coffee.

He handed it to her with a smile and a twinkle in his eye.

-Thanks.

-Anytime.

Dr. Fraser had left the room to run a few tests. When she finished she came back in, not eager to share what she had learned.

-General, Colonel, I think you should take a look at this.

She led them to a computer at the far end of the room.

-I don't know why but I decided to do a DNA analysis.

-And?

-And the results are quite startling.

Jack stopped eating his apple. It had suddenly ceased to taste good. He didn't have to look at the computer to know what it said. He hoped that General Hammond would get it too and not need an explanation.

-I'm afraid I don't understand Doctor.

Jack groaned. His luck was getting worse and worse.

-I don't either. I don't know how it's possible, but Katie's DNA matches that of Colonel O'Neill and...

-Don't say it.

Jack cut her off before she could finish her sentence.

-Excuse me?

-Don't say what I know you're gonna say.

Dr. Fraser glared at him, upset that he had interrupted. She was about to say it anyway when General Hammond interrupted her.

-It's all right Doctor, you don't need to say it. I think I understand now. It's about time we figured out what's going on.

With that the General stormed over to Katie with the look of a man who is to be reckoned with.

-Young lady, I want some answers and I want them now.

-You mean like how I got here and why my DNA matches Jack's?

-That seems like a good place to start.

General Hammond and Katie once more turned to glare at Jack.

-Sorry, don't mind me. I'm not here. I'm invisible.

Katie shook her head and smiled. She knew there was no possible way he could stay out of this conversation.

-Well, as to how I got here, my guess would be that my "transporter", for lack of a better word, actually worked. I wasn't sure if it would or not. Wow, come to think of it, that's gotta be a major breakthrough in scientific technology. Mom would be proud. Of course, I can't actually prove any of it. But I suppose the great theories never can be. Although, it's really not a theory, it's a fact. I just can't prove it. Although, I suppose there's always a possibility that given the...

-Whoa, hold on a second! Transporter? What the heck are you talking about? Are you even speaking English? You sound just like Carter!

She laughed lightly.

-What happened to invisible?

Jack glared at her, and she started to say something else when it dawned on her what Jack had just said. Tears started streaming down her face that she had no control of. She had promised herself that she would be strong. Well, that was just another promise broken.

-What's the matter? What'd I say?

Something broke in Jack when he was Katie crying. For the second time that day he found himself mentally kicking himself. "Good job Jack. You made her cry." In that moment he decided that he would make sure that she never cried again, or at the very least that they would be tears of joy.

-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cry. It's just...

Jack knelt by the bed and grasped her hand.

-Dad always said that I sounded exactly like Mom. I didn't think so. Mom's a lot smarter than I'll ever be. I couldn't have built the transporter without her. I don't know how I ever

finished it. I guess I was desperate and determined...

-Your mom died?

-Yeah, Dad too. That's why I had to finish the transporter. I couldn't live without them, so I came here.

-I'm still confused as to what the transporter actually is.

She smiled. It was a smile filled with hurt, sadness and bittersweet memories.

-Dad never did either. I don't know exactly how to explain it. It's a... a portal across time and space, that allows you to travel into alternate universes.

Jack's eyes widened.

-Uh, General, something tells me you need to call Carter and get her back here ASAP.

As much as I hate to admit it, I think we're gonna need her "technical expertise" to figure out what the heck is going on.

-I was starting to think that myself.

General Hammond left to call Major Carter. He had hoped that everyone's weekend would not have to be ruined. Oh well.

Katie looked at Jack in exasperation.

-I know Katie. I was hoping she wouldn't have to be here until we figured everything out, but we need her to figure everything out. Hopefully she'll be so involved with trying to figure out how you got here, she won't have time to realize who you are. Yet. We'll have to tell her eventually.

Katie bit her lip and nodded glumly.

-So you're from an alternate universe?

-Yah.

-And..uh, in this alternate universe I was your dad?

-Yup.

-Wow. That's...wow.

-If you're in shock, think about how I feel. I just lost my mom and dad and now...here you are. When I first got here I didn't know if I was dreaming or if it was real.

Jack nodded.

-I've had that feeling many a time. It's like...you're somewhere in between.

Katie smiled.

-I love that song.

Jack looked at her queerly.

-What song?

-'Somewhere in Between' by Lifehouse. Come to think of it, that song is perfect for this situation.

She began to sing softly.

-'I'm somewhere in between what is real and just dream. Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah.'

Jack smiled. She definitely didn't get her musical talents from him.

Suddenly Katie stopped singing.

-What was the last mission you guys went on?

-Well, we went to this planet...

-Which one?

-How am I supposed to remember, the numbers are all the same. P3X...something, something, something. I can't keep them straight.

Jonas had been talking to Dr. Fraser, finding out what the tests had shown. Boy, this day was getting weirder and weirder. At least that explained why Katie looked familiar. And why Jack was acting so funny. He walked over to the bed, pulled up a chair, and sat down.

-P3X824.

Katie smiled at him.

-Oh, the low batteries on the UAV.

Jonas nodded, obviously impressed.

-You said that Mo...that Carter was visiting her brother in San Diego. Where's Teal'c?

-He's on Chulak with Ryac and Bratac.

-Hmm. What's the date.

-May 14.

-May 14? Quick, what time do you have?

-It's 11 hundred.

She gasped and leaped out of the bed.

-Come on we've got to hurry!

Dr. Fraser rushed over to her side.

-Not so fast, you're not going anywhere. You dislocated your shoulder and I need to reset

it. Now sit down. The sooner I do it, the sooner you can go wherever it is you want to go.

Katie looked to Jack for help.

-I've learned not to mess with the doc, and I'd advise you not to either.

-Fine. But please doc, hurry.

-I'll do my best.

As Dr. Fraser got to work Jack turned to Katie.

-So, where are you in such a rush to go?

-The gate room Jacob will be here soon.