Spoiler Warning: Sorry, probably should have included this earlier but it slipped my mind. Spoilers for "Unnatural Selection", "Prophecy", and "Fallout"

Chapter 3

Sam was greeted with wary surprise by those in the Kelwonan gate-room who had not been expecting any visitors. In her civilian clothes, they were somewhat skeptical that she was, indeed, a member of the SGC.

Irritated with herself for not thinking about the fact that the entire planet was probably still on high-alert after the Gua'old invasion, she explained, "Look, I'm just here to visit a friend of mine. Jonas, Jonas Quinn…"

"You know Representative Quinn?" one of the guards asked, regarding her dubiously.

"Yeah. We worked together for almost a year." She nodded. "I told you, I'm Major Samantha Carter of SG-1."

Further argument was forestalled when a member of the SGC's diplomatic corps entered the gate-room, obviously on his way back to Earth.

"Oh, hello, Major," he greeted her. "I didn't know SG-1 was scheduled to visit."

"Oh, we're not, Moran," Sam told him, smiling faintly as the guards who had been harassing her immediately made themselves busy elsewhere. "I just had some down time, thought I'd visit Jonas, see how he's doing…"

He nodded faintly. "I'm sure your visit will cheer him up," he said.

She frowned. "Jonas needs cheering up?" she asked. That was definitely not characteristic of the Jonas Quinn she remembered. "Well, is he okay?"

"Mostly just tired, I think," Moran assured her. "Everyone's really scrambling here, trying to get this new government organized and there are hard feelings on all sides just making it harder." Grimacing, he added, "There was nearly a fistfight between two delegates last week."

"Oh, my God…"

He nodded. "Nasty business. First they were just insulting each other, then they started shouting, and the next thing I know they're on their feet and Jonas is standing between them pushing them apart." He shook his head. "I sometimes think he's the only calm or impartial one in the lot."

"Sounds like it," Sam agreed. "You headed back to earth?"

"Yeah, the General wanted an update."

She nodded, wondering if the negotiations that had nearly degenerated into a brawl would find a place in the official report. "Then I won't keep you."

"Thanks, Major. Good to see you again," he added over his shoulder as he dialed.

"You, too," she shouted over the noise of the event-horizon bursting into life. Turning to one of the guards, she asked, "Now, where can I find Jonas?"

"Well, ma'am, at this hour Representative Quinn would probably be at his home. I can have someone escort you if you'd like."

She smiled faintly, aware that the offer was a tacit apology for his earlier treatment of her. "I'd appreciate it. I don't really know my way around the city, after all."

He nodded. "Shawn!" he called to one of the guards.

"Yes, sir?" a young man asked, jogging up.

"This is Major Carter of the SGC. Drive her to Representative Quinn's house, will you."

"Yes, sir. This way, ma'am," he said, gesturing for Sam to precede him. 

***

"Would you like me to wait, ma'am?" Shawn asked as they pulled into a large court situated in front of an even larger house. Jonas had obviously moved up in the world from the time when he had been reviled as a traitor.

"No, that's okay," she assured him.

There were enough lights on to indicate that someone was home, and even if Jonas was not there, it would only have been a short walk back to the Gate. It was a beautiful evening for a walk, too. As Shawn left, she walked up the steps of the front porch, impressed by both the size and elegant architecture of the house. Jonas was definitely moving up in the world. Pleased that he was obviously doing well in his new life, she rang the bell.

The door was answered almost immediately by a pretty young girl who had, to judge by her coat, just been leaving.

"May I help you, ma'am?" she asked politely.

"Is Jonas here? Representative Quinn," she amended since that was what everyone else seemed to call him.

"I'm afraid the Representative isn't receiving visitors this evening, ma'am. May I take a message?"

Sam blinked, surprised. Of course, as Moran had pointed out, Jonas had to have been incredibly busy and would no doubt cherish what little free time he did get.

"If you could just tell him that Sam Carter dropped by," she began.

"Major Sam Carter?" she asked, her eyes widening slightly.

"Uh, yeah." Sam nodded faintly.

"Come in, ma'am," the girl said, shucking her coat and steering Sam inside.

"I thought he wasn't receiving visitors…"

"Representative Quinn left standing orders yesterday that you were to be admitted no matter what."

"He did?" Sam asked, frowning faintly. That seemed a little too coincidental to be mere chance.

"Oh, yes, ma'am," she answered, leading Sam up a large staircase. "And if I may be so bold, he's always spoken most highly of you and the others of the Tau'ri. He says you have technologies that our own scientists can not begin to conceive of…"

"Jonas never seemed to have much of a problem with them," she pointed out with a grin.

"Representative Quinn is most gifted," she answered gravely. "He says that many of your medical practices and technologies will soon be available to everyone on the planet. Is that true?"

Sam nodded. "That's the plan."

"I'm glad. Your… antibiotics have already saved many lives."

"Wait until you see what else they have," Jonas chimed in casually, leaning into the hallway and smiling at the two. "They're opening up a brave new world here."

"You don't look even slightly surprised to see me," Sam noted.

"Eh, I knew you couldn't stay away forever." He grinned. "I thought you were on your way home, Rebecca?"

"Oh, I was when the Major arrived, sir."

"Ah. Well, you'd better run, then. Don't want Isaac worrying."

"Yes, sir. Good night, sir. Major." Bowing her head to each, she turned and left.

"It's good to see you again, Sam," Jonas told her, giving her a quick hug. "It would be better if you didn't have a good reason for coming."

"You are getting the visions again," Sam whispered, staring at him. "My God, Jonas, we need to get you--"

"No." He shook his head. "It doesn't matter how many times they cut me open, Sam, they can't rewrite my genetic codes and the only machine that could was destroyed." He shrugged. "I honestly don't believe it's going to hurt me, anyway. I'm changing, that's all."

"That's how you broke up that fistfight the other day?" she realized, smiling.

He shrugged admission of the fact. "Here, let's go into my study. Or the garden if you prefer," he added. "I love that garden. It reminds me of the one my mother kept when I was little."

"Sounds nice," Sam agreed, nodding. "Lead the way." As they walked, she said, "So you know something's wrong. You know what yet?"

He shook his head faintly, frowning. "I still can't control them absolutely or see everything, but I'm getting better at it. Something has you scared, I know that much." He turned to face her, his frown deepening. "I also know that it takes a hell of a lot to scare you…" He shook his head, opening a pair of glass doors and ushering her into the garden. "So what's going on?"

"A lot," Sam sighed, looking curiously around.

It was a simple garden composed mostly of trees and flowering shrubs, dominated by a large, flower-filled lake. Those flowers bioluminesced, casting a pale blue glow over the entire courtyard. She made a mental note to bring a few back for analysis before joining him on a stone bench and getting down to the reason for her visit.

"This is going to sound absolutely crazy, Jonas, but I think I might be seeing the future," she said quickly, not looking at him.

"And you don't like what you see?"

She shook her head, glancing cautiously up at him. There was no trace of disbelief or skepticism in his expression. She supposed she should have known Jonas well enough to know that he would believe her.

Jonas regarded her thoughtfully for a long moment before continuing. "When my sister was little, she would have these dreams and they would come true. I remember one night, about a week before our parents died, she came to me in tears because she had dreamt that they would…" He trailed off, sighing softly. "She always knew which ones would come true."

"I didn't know you had a sister. You never mentioned it."

"We were separated after our parents died. I've been looking for her since I got back, but I haven't had any luck yet." He sighed again. "I'll keep looking, though. Hannah's out there, I know she is. I'll find her." He shook his head, forcing himself to return to the matter at hand. "I guess seeing the future kind of ran in the family. My grandmother used to read tea-leaves and cards." He glanced over at Sam. "Anything like that in your family?"

"No, nothing." She shook her head. "It's probably nothing, it just…"

"It scares you." Jonas nodded. "That I can relate to. Visions can be very scary things. What are yours of?"

"Myself, possessed by a Gua'old, killing the others…" She shook her head. "They may be nightmares, but it just feels so real!"

"No wonder you're scared," he murmured, nodding. "Let's go inside, Sam. I'll make a pot of tea and we can discuss this." He rose and offered his hand. "Do the others know?"

"They know about the nightmares."

"But not that you think they're visions of the future?"

She shook her head. "I couldn't tell them. They wouldn't have believed me. You I knew would understand."

He smiled faintly as he steered her inside and towards the sitting room. "Huh, maybe you really can foretell the future."

***

"How are the others doing?" Jonas asked as they settled down in his study with a pot of tea and a plate of cookies.

"Good, they're all good. Jack's still nagging me to go fishing with him," she added, grinning. "I'm running out of excuses. Uh, Teal'c is visiting his son, Daniel is up to his eyeballs in translating some new inscriptions. Same old, really."

"And Janet?"

"Well, she's busy handling the medical exchange program we have going with your people, but she's loving every minute of it, too."

"What's she think about your nightmares?"

"Stress, overwork…" Sam shrugged. "You know, the things doctors always say when they can't find anything wrong with you."

He grinned at the assessment. "So she ran you through the test-mill?"

"Two or three times." Sam grimaced. "I swear a few of those tests were just to train the new phlebotomist."

Jonas laughed and shook his head. "Janet is fond of her blood-tests. I remember she used to salivate over mine even before we realized that I was different from humans from your planet…" He rubbed the crook of his arm, shaking his head. "But I still miss her, needles and all. She's a nice woman."

"You always did get along better with the women of the SGC," she teased. "Speaking of nice women, how's Kianna?"

"She's good, doing great." Jonas smiled faintly. "Just got a teaching post at the most respected university on the planet."

"And?"

"And that puts her half a continent away," he said, sighing softly.

"Oh, Jonas, I'm sorry..."

"Don't be. It's just as well, really, I think. She's a sweet, wonderful woman, but she's not the one I was falling in love with, either. And me... I think I just reminded her of a time in her life she'd rather forget. We correspond regularly, though." He smiled faintly. "She's happy. I couldn't ask for more for her."

"You miss her?"

"Yeah, but... mostly it's not her I'm missing." He shook his head. "I'm still not sure how I feel about that, how I should..."

"I wish there was something I could do to help you. I know how much the Gua'old can mess with a person's life and their head."

"Time heals all wounds. Nothing happens in this universe without a purpose. It'll make sense eventually."

"Well, knowing you and your capacity for comprehending the incomprehensible, I'm sure it will," she agreed, sipping her tea. "Oh, that's good!"

"Thanks. I have a local botanist mix it up for me."

Sam raised an eyebrow. "Does it come with any warning labels?"

He grinned and nodded. "Something about drowsiness, not mixing it with alcohol, and mild hallucinations," he answered glibly. "But that last one's not something you or I need to worry about at all."

Sam smiled and shook her head. "How do you know? How do you tell the difference?"

"What, between a vision and a hallucination?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I'm not crazy, so…" He shrugged. "I don't know. You can just kind of tell. There's a sense of certainty to them."

"Well, I'm definitely feeling that, but these are dreams, not visions."

"At least not yet," Jonas amended gently.

Sam looked up at him, startled.

"Before I started having the visions, I was getting these horrible nightmares." He paused, inhaling deeply. "At least, I thought there were nightmares until I got back here and saw what the Naquadriah bomb was capable of..."

"Oh, God," Sam whispered, reaching across the end-table and touching his shoulder. "Jonas..."

"We brought this on ourselves," he said quietly, shaking his head. "Knowledge in itself isn't good or evil, but blindly pursuing it without a second thought for the potential ramifications... That's just wrong. Of all people, I should have known better."

"You can't blame yourself," she protested.

"I do, though. And I do my best to remind others of what can happen." He sighed, but it turned into a yawn. "Oh, I'm sorry, Sam," he apologized, shaking it off. "I've been up for... uh, about twenty-three hours."

"Get some rest. I'll come back another time."

"You can stay the night," he offered. "I'll have a few hours free in the morning, we can finish discussing this." Seeing her pause, he quickly added, "I have a guest-room. Rebecca sometimes stays there if we work too late into the night. Some of her nightclothes are in there, too. I'm sure they'll fit you."

Sam considered for a moment before nodding. She had not promised the others that she would be back immediately and, on friendly soil visiting Jonas, there would be no cause for them to worry.

"Thanks, Jonas. I'd like that." She smiled at him, rising as he did. "I've missed you," she added.

"Me, too." He grinned at her. "But I really wish that we could sometimes meet again without the stakes being life or death."

"Hey, it's always life or death in this line of work," she pointed out with a wry smile.

"So it is," Jonas agreed, grinning. "Come on. I'll show you the guest-room..."