TITLE: The Sought Ones
SEQUEL: to "The Lost Ones"
AUTHOR: Cyn(di)
EMAIL: custardpringle@yahoo.com
RATING: PG-13—language, sexual situations, adult themes. More coming later.
CATEGORY: supernatural, romance, drama, angst
SUMMARY: They were supposed to be gone forever. But "forever" is a very relative thing.
SPOILERS: I'm pretending "Heroes" and "Lost City" never happened, but anything else is fair game.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Allow me a brief spate of number crunching here, if you please.
16 people have me on their alert lists. Two are my betas and email feedback to me, although one of them posts reviews as well. Two more, one of whom is a personal friend, are reviewing, as well as one other person who doesn't have me on her alerts list. So . . . where are the other dozen of you? If you think I'm doing a bad job, at least tell me what I'm doing wrong. The only reason I'm posting here at all is for the feedback, and I *will* stop if I don't think it's worthwhile.
--------------------------------------------------
Sha're knocked cautiously on Teal'c's door the next morning. When he opened it, she was stunned momentarily by the interior, which was filled by rows upon rows of carefully arranged candles, all burning brightly.
After a second, Teal'c asked, "Did you wish to speak with me, Sha're?"
"Oh—yes." Sha're shook herself slightly. "May I come in?"
"Indeed you may." Teal'c stepped aside to let her through, closing the door once she had entered.
"I was admiring these candles," Sha're explained briefly, still awestruck. "I have heard that the Jaffa are very spiritual people, but I expected nothing like this. Did I interrupt something?"
"You did not," he assured her. "I am accustomed to meditate briefly in order to calm myself before each mission; however, I had just completed my meditation when you knocked." After a pause, Teal'c continued: "I have focused my meditations on you quite often in the past week."
Sha're let out a small sigh of relief, glad that she wouldn't have to broach the subject herself. "That doesn't surprise me," she answered, "although I am sorry to hear it."
Teal'c cocked his head inquiringly. "How so?"
"I am sorry," Sha're elaborated, "that you're still so concerned about something which occurred four years ago. I came here to tell you that you do not need to trouble yourself with my death—that I long ago forgave you for it. I know Dan'yer has already told you that, but I felt I should talk to you in person."
"I appreciate your concern," said Teal'c gravely, "and I know that neither you nor Daniel Jackson blame me for your death. Ultimately, however, that cannot take away my responsibility for what happened to you. Even though you have forgiven me, I do not think I will ever be able to forgive myself."
-----
Janet tried to give Charlie a reassuring smile, but he only glared unhappily. "Why do I have to stay here?"
"I have to go on a mission," Jack explained for the umpteenth time. "It's just for a few hours, okay? Much shorter than usual."
For the umpteenth time, Charlie nodded reluctantly, hoping he wasn't overdoing his act. "Fine."
Jack gave him a brief, suspicious look, but then smiled, kneeling down and hugging him. "You're gonna be nice to the doc, right, kid?"
"Of course," Charlie answered soberly. "'Bye Dad."
"'Bye Charlie. Love you." Jack got up and left, tossing a grin and a quick salute back over his shoulder before vanishing out the infirmary door.
The instant his dad was gone, a devilish smile flitted across Charlie's face, and he wasted no time in dashing into Janet's office. "Doctor Fraiser," he said plaintively, doing his best to look like he was in pain, "I need to go to the bathroom."
"There's one just down the hall," Janet told him. "But I want you to get right back here, understood?"
Charlie nodded soberly and was out into the corridor like a shot, just in time to see Jack disappearing around the corner. He followed behind, going as quickly as he could while remaining unnoticeable.
The pursuit continued for several minutes, and Charlie found himself following all sorts of corridors he'd never seen before. At one point, Jack took an elevator, and Charlie nearly lost him—but fortunately the elevator ride was a relatively short one, and Charlie was able to catch up again. At that point, Jack entered a room labeled "Armory"; Charlie, recognizing the term, was content to wait outside until Jack reemerged—now accompanied by an assortment of complicated-looking equipment, as well as Daniel, Sha're, Sam, and Teal'c (which Charlie thought was a very cool name).
Further down the corridor, they passed through another, larger door. Technicians were swarming around the area, but most didn't notice the small boy, and those who did recognized him but assumed he was there to see his father off. Charlie followed through the doorway and stopped, overwhelmed by what he saw inside. Even as he watched, the enormous metal ring lit up, and a massive amount of what looked like water shot out, then was sucked back in to become a smooth, rippling blue surface.
Then the unthinkable happened: Jack, along with his four companions, walked through it perfectly calmly and just evaporated.
Charlie gaped for a moment longer until he remembered why he was there. Without allowing himself any time for doubt, he dashed into the room and up the ramp. Years of playing baseball had given the boy an impressive ability to get from one place to another in a very short space of time, and he was through the event horizon before either the guards or General Hammond had time to react.
-----
"Well, this is convenient," said Jack cheerfully as they emerged from the Stargate into a large, ornate stone building. "We don't even have to walk anywhere."
"Unless this is the wrong temple," Daniel pointed out, spinning around at the unexpected thud that came just before the Gate disengaged.
Sha're, having been last to go through, was the first to reach Charlie's side, helping the dazed boy to his feet. "Are you all right?"
"Aw, for cryin' out loud—" Jack's habitual expression of frustration was tinged with more than a trace of worry as he virtually leapt to her side. "Charlie, what on earth are you doing here?"
"I wanted to come with you," Charlie answered simply, still trying to shake off the aftereffects of the wormhole.
"But why?" Jack repeated. "I told you not to . . ." He trailed off, searching for better words and not finding them.
"You would've been fine with Janet," Sam pointed out reasonably.
"I know. But I didn't want Dad to leave me." Charlie paused, also groping for an explanation.
In the ensuing few seconds of silence, Daniel's eyes suddenly widened as he realized what was happening, and he tightened his grip on Sha're's shoulder.
After a long pause, Charlie looked up, his light brown eyes meeting his father's darker ones. "The last time you left," he said, as if only realizing it himself for the first time, "I died."
Even Teal'c flinched at that, and Sam gasped audibly, but Jack remained frozen in place, although something flickered briefly across his face. "You should've said something, kid. I'm not exactly the most important person on this mission—I could've stayed home this time."
Before anyone else could say anything, the Stargate burst into life, forcing them all to duck. A second later, static began to crackle out of Jack's radio. "Colonel O'Neill, this is General Hammond. Your son—"
"I know," Jack interrupted. "Charlie's fine, although I'd like to know how a bunch of trained soldiers managed to not be able to stop an eight-year- old boy from getting through the Gate . . . with all due respect, of course, sir."
"I'm wondering that myself," Hammond admitted. "Colonel, we'll be keeping the iris open once we shut down this wormhole, so you can send the boy back here."
"I appreciate that, sir," Jack said. Charlie sagged visibly in disappointment. "However, I don't think that'll be necessary."
Everyone else turned and stared at him in astonishment, and Hammond was apparently no exception. "Colonel," he spluttered, "are you saying you're willing to keep your son with you on this mission?"
"I am, sir," answered Jack. "This isn't exactly a combat situation. If Charlie wants to come along this badly, I don't think it's a problem. This time, anyway," he added, shooting a pointed glare at the boy in question, who nodded meekly. "Just make sure Fraiser knows where he is."
Hammond heaved a sigh. "If you're certain, Colonel, I guess I can't argue. But I still don't like it. Hammond out."
"O'Neill out," Jack responded automatically, and the radio and the Stargate both shut down.
"Wait a sec," Daniel said. "Charlie, how exactly did you get past the Gateroom guards?"
Charlie shrugged. "I was lucky, I guess. And I run fast," he added with more than a hint of pride.
Daniel raised his eyebrows incredulously, but nodded in understanding, not being able to think of a better explanation.
A corner of Teal'c's mouth quirked upward. "It would appear that Charles O'Neill takes after his father to a quite alarming degree."
Jack whirled around. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"
"Don't worry, Jack," Sha're said reassuringly, standing up. "I suspect that was a compliment. To both of you."
"Indeed it was," Teal'c confirmed.
"In that case, thanks, T." Jack turned back to his wayward offspring. "And as for you, you're going to stay with us the entire time we're here, right?"
Charlie smiled winningly. "Of course," he said, and meant it. As exciting as this whole thing might be, he had no intention of getting into any more trouble and risking wrecking his dad's current good mood.
SEQUEL: to "The Lost Ones"
AUTHOR: Cyn(di)
EMAIL: custardpringle@yahoo.com
RATING: PG-13—language, sexual situations, adult themes. More coming later.
CATEGORY: supernatural, romance, drama, angst
SUMMARY: They were supposed to be gone forever. But "forever" is a very relative thing.
SPOILERS: I'm pretending "Heroes" and "Lost City" never happened, but anything else is fair game.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Allow me a brief spate of number crunching here, if you please.
16 people have me on their alert lists. Two are my betas and email feedback to me, although one of them posts reviews as well. Two more, one of whom is a personal friend, are reviewing, as well as one other person who doesn't have me on her alerts list. So . . . where are the other dozen of you? If you think I'm doing a bad job, at least tell me what I'm doing wrong. The only reason I'm posting here at all is for the feedback, and I *will* stop if I don't think it's worthwhile.
--------------------------------------------------
Sha're knocked cautiously on Teal'c's door the next morning. When he opened it, she was stunned momentarily by the interior, which was filled by rows upon rows of carefully arranged candles, all burning brightly.
After a second, Teal'c asked, "Did you wish to speak with me, Sha're?"
"Oh—yes." Sha're shook herself slightly. "May I come in?"
"Indeed you may." Teal'c stepped aside to let her through, closing the door once she had entered.
"I was admiring these candles," Sha're explained briefly, still awestruck. "I have heard that the Jaffa are very spiritual people, but I expected nothing like this. Did I interrupt something?"
"You did not," he assured her. "I am accustomed to meditate briefly in order to calm myself before each mission; however, I had just completed my meditation when you knocked." After a pause, Teal'c continued: "I have focused my meditations on you quite often in the past week."
Sha're let out a small sigh of relief, glad that she wouldn't have to broach the subject herself. "That doesn't surprise me," she answered, "although I am sorry to hear it."
Teal'c cocked his head inquiringly. "How so?"
"I am sorry," Sha're elaborated, "that you're still so concerned about something which occurred four years ago. I came here to tell you that you do not need to trouble yourself with my death—that I long ago forgave you for it. I know Dan'yer has already told you that, but I felt I should talk to you in person."
"I appreciate your concern," said Teal'c gravely, "and I know that neither you nor Daniel Jackson blame me for your death. Ultimately, however, that cannot take away my responsibility for what happened to you. Even though you have forgiven me, I do not think I will ever be able to forgive myself."
-----
Janet tried to give Charlie a reassuring smile, but he only glared unhappily. "Why do I have to stay here?"
"I have to go on a mission," Jack explained for the umpteenth time. "It's just for a few hours, okay? Much shorter than usual."
For the umpteenth time, Charlie nodded reluctantly, hoping he wasn't overdoing his act. "Fine."
Jack gave him a brief, suspicious look, but then smiled, kneeling down and hugging him. "You're gonna be nice to the doc, right, kid?"
"Of course," Charlie answered soberly. "'Bye Dad."
"'Bye Charlie. Love you." Jack got up and left, tossing a grin and a quick salute back over his shoulder before vanishing out the infirmary door.
The instant his dad was gone, a devilish smile flitted across Charlie's face, and he wasted no time in dashing into Janet's office. "Doctor Fraiser," he said plaintively, doing his best to look like he was in pain, "I need to go to the bathroom."
"There's one just down the hall," Janet told him. "But I want you to get right back here, understood?"
Charlie nodded soberly and was out into the corridor like a shot, just in time to see Jack disappearing around the corner. He followed behind, going as quickly as he could while remaining unnoticeable.
The pursuit continued for several minutes, and Charlie found himself following all sorts of corridors he'd never seen before. At one point, Jack took an elevator, and Charlie nearly lost him—but fortunately the elevator ride was a relatively short one, and Charlie was able to catch up again. At that point, Jack entered a room labeled "Armory"; Charlie, recognizing the term, was content to wait outside until Jack reemerged—now accompanied by an assortment of complicated-looking equipment, as well as Daniel, Sha're, Sam, and Teal'c (which Charlie thought was a very cool name).
Further down the corridor, they passed through another, larger door. Technicians were swarming around the area, but most didn't notice the small boy, and those who did recognized him but assumed he was there to see his father off. Charlie followed through the doorway and stopped, overwhelmed by what he saw inside. Even as he watched, the enormous metal ring lit up, and a massive amount of what looked like water shot out, then was sucked back in to become a smooth, rippling blue surface.
Then the unthinkable happened: Jack, along with his four companions, walked through it perfectly calmly and just evaporated.
Charlie gaped for a moment longer until he remembered why he was there. Without allowing himself any time for doubt, he dashed into the room and up the ramp. Years of playing baseball had given the boy an impressive ability to get from one place to another in a very short space of time, and he was through the event horizon before either the guards or General Hammond had time to react.
-----
"Well, this is convenient," said Jack cheerfully as they emerged from the Stargate into a large, ornate stone building. "We don't even have to walk anywhere."
"Unless this is the wrong temple," Daniel pointed out, spinning around at the unexpected thud that came just before the Gate disengaged.
Sha're, having been last to go through, was the first to reach Charlie's side, helping the dazed boy to his feet. "Are you all right?"
"Aw, for cryin' out loud—" Jack's habitual expression of frustration was tinged with more than a trace of worry as he virtually leapt to her side. "Charlie, what on earth are you doing here?"
"I wanted to come with you," Charlie answered simply, still trying to shake off the aftereffects of the wormhole.
"But why?" Jack repeated. "I told you not to . . ." He trailed off, searching for better words and not finding them.
"You would've been fine with Janet," Sam pointed out reasonably.
"I know. But I didn't want Dad to leave me." Charlie paused, also groping for an explanation.
In the ensuing few seconds of silence, Daniel's eyes suddenly widened as he realized what was happening, and he tightened his grip on Sha're's shoulder.
After a long pause, Charlie looked up, his light brown eyes meeting his father's darker ones. "The last time you left," he said, as if only realizing it himself for the first time, "I died."
Even Teal'c flinched at that, and Sam gasped audibly, but Jack remained frozen in place, although something flickered briefly across his face. "You should've said something, kid. I'm not exactly the most important person on this mission—I could've stayed home this time."
Before anyone else could say anything, the Stargate burst into life, forcing them all to duck. A second later, static began to crackle out of Jack's radio. "Colonel O'Neill, this is General Hammond. Your son—"
"I know," Jack interrupted. "Charlie's fine, although I'd like to know how a bunch of trained soldiers managed to not be able to stop an eight-year- old boy from getting through the Gate . . . with all due respect, of course, sir."
"I'm wondering that myself," Hammond admitted. "Colonel, we'll be keeping the iris open once we shut down this wormhole, so you can send the boy back here."
"I appreciate that, sir," Jack said. Charlie sagged visibly in disappointment. "However, I don't think that'll be necessary."
Everyone else turned and stared at him in astonishment, and Hammond was apparently no exception. "Colonel," he spluttered, "are you saying you're willing to keep your son with you on this mission?"
"I am, sir," answered Jack. "This isn't exactly a combat situation. If Charlie wants to come along this badly, I don't think it's a problem. This time, anyway," he added, shooting a pointed glare at the boy in question, who nodded meekly. "Just make sure Fraiser knows where he is."
Hammond heaved a sigh. "If you're certain, Colonel, I guess I can't argue. But I still don't like it. Hammond out."
"O'Neill out," Jack responded automatically, and the radio and the Stargate both shut down.
"Wait a sec," Daniel said. "Charlie, how exactly did you get past the Gateroom guards?"
Charlie shrugged. "I was lucky, I guess. And I run fast," he added with more than a hint of pride.
Daniel raised his eyebrows incredulously, but nodded in understanding, not being able to think of a better explanation.
A corner of Teal'c's mouth quirked upward. "It would appear that Charles O'Neill takes after his father to a quite alarming degree."
Jack whirled around. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"
"Don't worry, Jack," Sha're said reassuringly, standing up. "I suspect that was a compliment. To both of you."
"Indeed it was," Teal'c confirmed.
"In that case, thanks, T." Jack turned back to his wayward offspring. "And as for you, you're going to stay with us the entire time we're here, right?"
Charlie smiled winningly. "Of course," he said, and meant it. As exciting as this whole thing might be, he had no intention of getting into any more trouble and risking wrecking his dad's current good mood.