Epilogue
The Gate flared and five figures emerged from the fluid-like surface. They all paused at the top of the stairs, looking around. The day was sunny and bright, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.
Colonel Jack O'Neill had come through the Gate carrying his P-90, even though he had no reason to assume he'd need it. It was always better safe than sorry. He looked around, his eyes automatically searching for danger, the Soldier taking over without him even realizing it.
"Master Bra'tac!"
The boy standing next to O'Neill launched himself at the form at the bottom of the stairs, and Jack watched as the normally stoic Jaffa warrior scooped the boy up into his arms and returned what was obviously an enthusiastic hug, but he couldn't hear whatever words were exchanged. He nudged Teal'c, who was standing next to him holding his staff weapon, and gestured to the wide field that was spread out before them.
The field was large, and was obviously used for multiple purposes. Off a short ways into the distance was a pair of Goa'uld death gliders – sans the Goa'uld. The craft were sleek and deadly looking, even sitting quietly in the field. In front of them was a group of warriors, all sparring with each other, ignoring the newcomers until they were finished with their bouts. As each pair finished, they walked over, watching with welcoming smiles or gestures as SG-1 finally walked down the stairs to join Shawn and Bra'tac at the bottom.
Teal'c greeted Bra'tac warmly, as did the others, all smiling at the older man.
"O'Neill!"
"Master Bra'tac," Jack greeted him as he shook hands. "How have you been?"
"Every day we grow stronger," he said, gesturing to the group of assembled warriors. "As does our young friend, here. No?" Now he gestured to the boy that was standing beside him.
Jack looked down at Shawn, unable to stop the proud smile. The boy was looking up at him, his face shining with pride at the compliment, and excitement. The thin white scar on his forehead was the only blemish on the smooth skin, and his brown eyes sparkled with good health and intelligence. Jack nodded.
"He's doing well. I have him for the weekend, and school pictures are on Monday, so try not to let him pick up too many bruises, okay?"
"He has improved a great deal since our first lesson," Bra'tac said, clapping the boy on his back with a proud gesture of his own. "There will be few bruises. He's growing into a fine warrior."
"The gliders are ready?" Jack asked. They had an appointment, and while Bra'tac was at the top of a very short list of people that Jack felt comfortable leaving the boy with, he still wanted to get there and get back.
"Indeed."
O'Neill nodded and smiled down at the boy again.
"All right, Shawn. I'll be back tomorrow. You be good, and do whatever Master Bra'tac tells you."
"I will, Jack," Shawn said, excitedly. They didn't go off world all that often, but when they did it was always exciting for the boy. He loved his lessons with the Jaffa, who always treated him like one of their own. Which, in a way, he was.
"He always does, O'Neill," Bra'tac confirmed.
"If he knows what is good for him," Teal'c said in a growl. Shawn smiled up at the Jaffa, knowing Teal'c far too well to be intimidated by him or his deep gravelly voice.
"If we're going to meet up with my dad, we'd better get going," Sam said. She smiled down at Shawn and ruffled his hair, an action he pretended to hate, although he secretly loved it. Which she knew.
"Yeah," Daniel said. "I'm anxious to see these ruins the Tok'ra found."
"Too bad there isn't a Gate there. It'd be a lot more convenient."
"Okay, kids, let's go." Jack patted Bra'tac on the shoulder as he walked past the Jaffa. "Don't forget, school pictures!"
The rest of SG-1 followed him, and separated into pairs as they approached the Death Gliders. Sam with Jack, Daniel with Teal'c. In the background, they could hear Bra'tac asking his youngest student what exactly a school picture was.
~*~
Author's note: Okay! That's the end of this story. Again (as always) I'd like to know what you liked the most, what you hated the most. I know this one didn't have a lot of humor in it, but I like to write serious stories, too. I'm not finished with Shawn, in case anyone is curious, but this part is finished!
The Gate flared and five figures emerged from the fluid-like surface. They all paused at the top of the stairs, looking around. The day was sunny and bright, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.
Colonel Jack O'Neill had come through the Gate carrying his P-90, even though he had no reason to assume he'd need it. It was always better safe than sorry. He looked around, his eyes automatically searching for danger, the Soldier taking over without him even realizing it.
"Master Bra'tac!"
The boy standing next to O'Neill launched himself at the form at the bottom of the stairs, and Jack watched as the normally stoic Jaffa warrior scooped the boy up into his arms and returned what was obviously an enthusiastic hug, but he couldn't hear whatever words were exchanged. He nudged Teal'c, who was standing next to him holding his staff weapon, and gestured to the wide field that was spread out before them.
The field was large, and was obviously used for multiple purposes. Off a short ways into the distance was a pair of Goa'uld death gliders – sans the Goa'uld. The craft were sleek and deadly looking, even sitting quietly in the field. In front of them was a group of warriors, all sparring with each other, ignoring the newcomers until they were finished with their bouts. As each pair finished, they walked over, watching with welcoming smiles or gestures as SG-1 finally walked down the stairs to join Shawn and Bra'tac at the bottom.
Teal'c greeted Bra'tac warmly, as did the others, all smiling at the older man.
"O'Neill!"
"Master Bra'tac," Jack greeted him as he shook hands. "How have you been?"
"Every day we grow stronger," he said, gesturing to the group of assembled warriors. "As does our young friend, here. No?" Now he gestured to the boy that was standing beside him.
Jack looked down at Shawn, unable to stop the proud smile. The boy was looking up at him, his face shining with pride at the compliment, and excitement. The thin white scar on his forehead was the only blemish on the smooth skin, and his brown eyes sparkled with good health and intelligence. Jack nodded.
"He's doing well. I have him for the weekend, and school pictures are on Monday, so try not to let him pick up too many bruises, okay?"
"He has improved a great deal since our first lesson," Bra'tac said, clapping the boy on his back with a proud gesture of his own. "There will be few bruises. He's growing into a fine warrior."
"The gliders are ready?" Jack asked. They had an appointment, and while Bra'tac was at the top of a very short list of people that Jack felt comfortable leaving the boy with, he still wanted to get there and get back.
"Indeed."
O'Neill nodded and smiled down at the boy again.
"All right, Shawn. I'll be back tomorrow. You be good, and do whatever Master Bra'tac tells you."
"I will, Jack," Shawn said, excitedly. They didn't go off world all that often, but when they did it was always exciting for the boy. He loved his lessons with the Jaffa, who always treated him like one of their own. Which, in a way, he was.
"He always does, O'Neill," Bra'tac confirmed.
"If he knows what is good for him," Teal'c said in a growl. Shawn smiled up at the Jaffa, knowing Teal'c far too well to be intimidated by him or his deep gravelly voice.
"If we're going to meet up with my dad, we'd better get going," Sam said. She smiled down at Shawn and ruffled his hair, an action he pretended to hate, although he secretly loved it. Which she knew.
"Yeah," Daniel said. "I'm anxious to see these ruins the Tok'ra found."
"Too bad there isn't a Gate there. It'd be a lot more convenient."
"Okay, kids, let's go." Jack patted Bra'tac on the shoulder as he walked past the Jaffa. "Don't forget, school pictures!"
The rest of SG-1 followed him, and separated into pairs as they approached the Death Gliders. Sam with Jack, Daniel with Teal'c. In the background, they could hear Bra'tac asking his youngest student what exactly a school picture was.
~*~
Author's note: Okay! That's the end of this story. Again (as always) I'd like to know what you liked the most, what you hated the most. I know this one didn't have a lot of humor in it, but I like to write serious stories, too. I'm not finished with Shawn, in case anyone is curious, but this part is finished!
