"Secure the rope to the Stargate, and we'll go down and get her," Jack said, still looking down the hole that had captured his daughter. Once Sam expertly tied the strong rope to the gate, Jack swiftly climbed down into darkness. Turning on his flashlight he shone the light around illuminating the narrow tunnel that extended in only one direction. Daniel, and then Sam and Teal'c all came down into the dark turning on their flashlights. Teal'c having given his light to Shelby, stood alert ready for any dangers that may present themselves as they moved further into the tunnel. Just as they stepped from view of the trap door in the floor above, they heard the rope being pulled up. Teal'c made a go for the tip of the rope but wasn't fast enough, and just missed it by inches. He made an attempt at jumping trying to reach the edge of the hole to hopefully pull himself up, but not even he could reach the ledge, which was at least three feet from him grasp. As the rest of SG1 moved to stand with him under the holes opening, a head popped out over it.
"Shelby! What are you doing?!" Jack yelled, seeing her face and golden hair falling around her head as she gazed down on them.
"You don't think I'd let you guys take away this find that easily did you?" She said coldly into the dark tunnel. She couldn't see her father but she glared in his general direction.
"There are more people coming to clear the site," Jack said hoping to deter her from doing anything she was going to get sent to jail for.
"Don't worry they've been dealt with. I'm sure they won't mind being held up at customs for a few hours, " she notified him with a smirk. "Oh and don't waste your time trying to use your cell phones down there, they don't work, I've made sure of it" she smiled sweetly.
"Well, bye, and don't worry I'll send someone to let you guys out once I'm finished here" She said, before disappearing form view.
"Shelby, don't do this!!" Jack yelled angrily as a large object was moved over the hole blocking out any light that may have been shining in on SG1.
"Dammit!" Jack said kicking the wall beside him. Sam and Daniel shone their flashlights at the ceiling seeing if there was any way to get rid of the thing that had locked them in. What ever had been placed over the hole looked pretty solid and without their rope or a ladder there was no way to reach up high enough to even try pushing it away.
"Jack we'll get out of here… If Dr. O'Neill got out of here, then we can too." Daniel said optimistically, knowing Jack was beyond pissed at the moment. Jack sighed, Daniel was right. He cupped his hands over the beak of his hat and closed his eyes in frustration. He should have known his daughter had given in just a little too easily, and that she would try something else. If there was only one thing he taught her, it was to never settle for anything.
SG1 spent the better part of half an hour looking for hidden latches or cracks in the walls of the tunnel, in hopes of getting out. Jack had given up after a few minutes, and Sam and Teal'c followed not too long afterwards. Daniel however was content with sitting on the dusty floor looking over some glyphs along the bottom of the wall.
"Anything Daniel?" Jack asked tiredly from his spot on the floor nearby.
"Umm, maybe"
"Maybe?" Jack looked up hopefully. He wanted to get out and stop his daughter before she could leave the site. He stood up and walked over to where Daniel was on the floor.
"Uh, I think I may have found a way to get out."
"Then do it" Jack ordered.
"Well you see Jack, it's not quite that simple. If my translation is right then all we have to do is push this symbol" Jack opened his mouth to say something but Daniel held up a finger silencing him.
"But if I'm wrong then the whole tunnel could collapse, blow up or a number of equally unpleasant things could happen."
"We'll take our chances" Jack said reaching down and pressing the symbol firmly. Daniel jumped back as there was a shifting noise within the wall and a small section of it swung outwards like a car door.
"Sweet" Jack shone his flashlight into the large chamber behind the door. Seeing no immediate threat he walked in, the rest of SG1 followed close behind him.
"That way" Daniel pointed seeing a tall doorway housing a narrow staircase to the left of them. If he was correct it would take them back to the room where the stargate was. They carefully made their way up the steps, which did in fact lead to the gate room. They stood in the doorway, hidden in the shadows, as the saw Shelby capturing images of the stargate with a digital camera.
"Ahem" Jack cleared his throat, while moving closer to her. He saw her shoulders slump slightly and her head drop as she sighed. Turning around she cocked her head to the side.
"I'm impressed, didn't think that you guys would find a way out so quickly."
"Yeah well Daniel's a smart cookie, and there was a little incentive, y'know finding you… before you get your ass thrown in jail" Jack said seriously.
"Jail?" Shelby laughed. She turned off her camera and put it in her bag. "I don't think so"
"We can't allow you to tell anyone about what you've found here, " Jack said, knowing that nothing he said was getting through to her.
"Tough, I won't let you take this away from me" She responded.
"How much have your workers seen?" Daniel spoke up, coming to stand beside Jack.
"Not much, I sent them all away before I 'fell' into the tunnel" she replied honestly. "But you still won't keep me from publishing my findings, the world will-" There was a bright flash of light cutting her off and SG1 and Shelby found themselves on the bridge of an Asguard ship.
"What the hell?" Shelby exclaimed, spinning around on the spot.
"Where are we?" She demanded looking to Jack expectantly.
"Greetings O'Neill," came a familiar voice. Shelby took a couple steps back, bumping into Daniels chest.
"Hey Thor… uh what's up?" Jack said casually, sticking his hands in his pockets.
"I am aware that your offspring" Thor began indicating Shelby, "has found a stargate and sarcophagus, and is unwilling to cooperate with you"
"Offspring?" Shelby repeated, eyeing Thor very carefully.
"Yeah well she's stubborn" Jack stated looking at the person in question.
"Could someone PLEASE tell me who he is and where the hell we are?!" Shelby demanded pointing at Thor and then waving her arms around to indicate the ship.
"I am Thor." The small grey alien introduced himself. Shelby rubbed a hand over her face.
"Must be more tired then I thought," she muttered, looking at the floor.
"Don't worry, you're not hallucinating" Daniel said kindly, smiling at the young woman's reaction. It was always fun to see people's reactions to Thor and other aliens.
"O'Neill, I believe that if you allow your offspring-"
"Offspring? Who says that?" the younger O'Neill commented, earning a glare from her father.
"If you allow your offspring to work for the SGC, she would not feel compelled to tell others of her discoveries."
"He has point Sir" Sam acknowledged.
"We could always use more archaeologists and linguists," Daniel piped up glancing quickly to Shelby who was still staring wide-eyed at Thor. She almost looked like she was ready to throw up.
"Should have stayed in bed this morning" Jack grumbled.
"Yeah me too" Shelby mumbled.
"I shall leave the situation in your hands O'Neill. The stargate and other items have been transported to the SGC storage level." Thor informed them. And with that another flash of light surrounded the group and they found themselves in the briefing room at Cheyenne Mountain. After a few moments of silence someone spoke up,
"Aliens?" Shelby raised her eyebrows to her father. Jack simply shrugged,
"Retirement was boring"
TBC…. Finally I have gotten the wheels rolling again… this chapter didn't have a lot to it but I had to find a way to get Dr. O'Neill from being a … well, a bitch to slowly warming to the idea of working at the SGC…. Please review; any ideas for future chapters are welcome too. : )