Jack? By Teri

Part IV

"Come In," the general stated without looking up from his report.

"Thank you general," came the voice of Daniel Jackson. The sound of that voice made the General look-up. It wasn't often that the young archaeologist came to his office and when he did . . .

"Sir, do you remember last week when I asked for some personal time?" Daniel asked and the general nodded. "I joined a friend on a dig in Egypt. Nick had found the lost temple of Neferteri, who was an Egyptian goddess known for . . . actually that is not important right now." He said pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose.

'Oh this must be bad if Daniel is glossing over the mythology' the general realized as he felt a sinking feeling in his stomach.

"What is important is that Nick e-mailed me pictures of some glyphs of a wall I didn't get to examine while I was there." Daniel explained, "a different researcher was attempting to translate it with apparent success. Anyway, it turns out the wall was written in Goa'uld."

"The Goa'uld? What did it say?" asked the General whose sinking feeling was growing by the minute.

"It spoke of Neferteri, who was an extremely powerful Goa'uld who single handily defeated a united front presented by Osiris, Seth, and Aphohis." Daniel said as he ran his hand through his hair, "and she is said to be encased in a sarcophagus in the temple."

"What are you recommending, Dr. Jackson?" The General asked even thought he realized he would likely have to secure the entire site to prevent any accident encounters.

"I believe we should secure the dig, to make sure that no one inadvertently opens that sarcophagus. Once it is removed the dig can be returned to Nicholas." He stated hoping he could explain it to Nick in a way that he wouldn't lose his last friend in the archaeological community.

"Alright Dr. Jackson. I will have a team sent . . ."

"Actually, sir, I thought that Sam, Teal'c and I could take care of it and being just us we wouldn't draw as much attention." Daniel said cutting off the General.

He made a good point. No use stirring up people any more than need be. Unfortunately, SG-1 were needed on PX582. "Unfortunately Doctor Jackson you are needed for the treaty negotiations on PX582. I will send Colonel Makepeace and SG-3." Daniel tried to interrupt but the General waived him off and continued. "However, as soon as SG-1 is done you will be sent to join them. Is that Clear?"

"Yes sir" Daniel said. He did not like it, but he did not have much choice. He started to turn to leave, but another thought came to him. "Sir, the other researcher. . . According to Nick he was able to read the translation. Do you think that could be a problem sir? I mean what if . . ." he hesitated not really sure where his own thoughts were leading.

There were a lot of what ifs and he did not like any of them. "I agree Dr. Jackson. I will run a full background search. What was the man's name?"

"MacGyver" Daniel stated.

"MacGyver?" The General asked a bit surprised.

"Yes sir, I never heard a first name." Daniel offered.

"No, I don't imagine you would if it is the same man." The general sat back to think for a few moments. "What did you think of him son?"

"I didn't get to meet him. I tried, but he seemed as though he was avoiding me on purpose. It got to be a running gag." He said with a small smile.

'The MacGyver?' that would be too unlikely, the General thought to himself.

"General?" Daniel asked slightly worried at the General's reaction.

"Nothing, just trying to place that name. I will take care of it. Dr. Jackson, I want you to brief Colonel Makepeace and his team ASAP. Dismissed."

"Thank you General" Daniel said as he walked out.

The General sat-back and shook his head. "MacGyver?" Unless he missed his guess, it seemed as though things were about to get interesting.

* * * * *

Adam closed the tent flap and came to sit next to Nick. Andie had been hysterical and he had to give her a sedative.

"Alright, now that we have taken care of Andie, I want to know what went on there!" Nick said barely controlling his temper. He didn't like to feel out of control, but one of his people, his friend had died. He was going to find out even if it meant pulling Detective Knight back out of retirement.

"Easy, we ask our good friend MacGyver." Adam said staring directly at Mac.

"What do you mean, Adam." Nick asked a bit puzzled.

"Didn't you hear him say 'Been there, done that, not repeating it, besides I know what you are and how to kill you' after Paul told us to kneel!" Adam replied giving Nick a curt smile.

"Yeah, but I thought it was just bravado I mean Paul. . . "

"He wasn't Paul." Mac said softly interrupting Nick. As he did two sets of eyes focused on him. He had already decided that he had to tell them something. They had seen the eyes and heard the voice. Besides, he would need their cooperation to keep the site secured until he could get word to the SGC.

"Then just who was he," came the British accented voice.

"It is a long story." Mac began.

"Fine. I look forward to hearing it, but first, there has been a death and we need to contact the local police." Nick interjected. "Although, I am not sure how much help they will be. That seemed to be something quite out of the realm of a usual police investigation."

"No, we cannot contact the local authorities. We need to contact the American military. The Air Force to be more specific." Mac started to explain, but saw two dumbfounded looks.

"Mac, I really don't think. . ." Nick started

"Nick, You know that I have done a lot of top secret work when I was a field agent for the Phoenix foundation." Nick nodded. "And unless I miss my guess you know I use to be a DSX agent."

Nick answered with a surprised tone. "No, I didn't. What is the DSX?"

"The DSX is a top-secret federal agency like the FBI, NID, etc. Only they take on a lot more of the riskier assignments. They are a lot like the Agency where Lee Stetson works" only the reply came from Adam not Mac.

Nick and Mac both just looked at Adam. Each wondering how he knew. "I am old, wise, and know everything" Adam said in reply with a straight face and a hint of exasperation. Nick just looked at him and laughed.

"Yeah right kid, tell me about being old and wise when your my age" Mac replied. As he did he noticed at amused glint in Adam's eye and Nick seemed to think it was hysterical. 'Kids! Both of them are still so young.'

"Be that as it may, what does you're past have to do with what happened to Paul" Adam said being serious again.

Here is where he needed to be careful. He needed to tell them something, but there was still the little matter of National Security. Maybe he could manage with some half truths and small white lies. He needed to walk a very fine line here.

"Well you see. . ." he began he swept his hand through his hair in an unconscious impression of Daniel. "I have to be careful because some of what I know is classified." 'Aw hell this is harder than I thought it would be, maybe I should just hit them with something close to the truth?'

"You've heard of the Air Force's project blue book haven't you?" he asked.

Both nodded and looked thoughtfully at him. 'Neither started laughing at him. Was that a good sign or a bad one?'

"Well, let's just say there was more to it than a lot of stray weather balloons." Mac said and then the room was filled with silence.

"You are kidding aren't you?" It was Nick that broke the silence. Nick looked over at Mac who looked deadly serious. In fact there was a look on his face he had never seen before. He almost felt like he with an entirely different person from the calm easy-going MacGyver he knew. He then turned to look at Adam. He had the look on his face he got when he was trying to remember something. 'Was it possible Adam may have see something like all of this before?'

"Look Nick, I am telling you the truth. I want you to call this number," Mac said as he took out paper and wrote. "Tell them exactly what happened. OK. Now I want to get out of here before they come, because I have stayed away from the foundation to long as it is and if I am here when they come who knows how long we will all be detained for questioning."

Adam and Nick exchanged glances. They both knew there was more to Mac desire for a hasty departure. "Fine. I will call. You go get your gear together and I will make the arrangements. Adam, why don't you go check on Andie?' Nick gave out his orders and each disbursed to complete their assigned tasks.

* * * * *

As he packed, he wondered if he was doing the right thing. He wanted to get out of there before anyone from the SGC showed up, but could he really leave the site unsecured until they arrived? He figured most of the command would not give him a second glance with his long blonde hair not to mention his intellectual reputation. 'After all Jack O'Neill and smart didn't belong in the same sentence' he thought to himself with amusement. The main problem was if they sent anyone he was close with like Daniel, Sam, Teal'c even Makepeace and his crew. They would likely know him. Wouldn't believe it, but still. . . What was he going to do? 'For Pete's sake.' He knew what he needed to do, even if he didn't like it.

* * * * *

"Thank you. I will" Nick continued as he finished his phone call.

"Well?"

Nick jumped slightly to seem Adam standing behind him. "You are too quite for my own good do you know that?"

"Its been said!" Adam replied with a chuckle then getting serious again. "So what is happening?"

"Well, I don't know exactly, but Mac was right they were very interested in what I had to say. They also told me not to let any of the workers leave until they arrive." Nick told Adam.

"Really, they are coming here?" Adam asked worried what that really meant if the government was so eager to come.

"Yeah and I guess that means Mac shouldn't leave either." He said as he shot Adam a slightly amused look "but of course we may have an easier time convincing him that the sky is really pink."

Adam just snorted.

"Hey guys, what did the authorities say?" Mac asked as he entered the tent.

"I thought you were packing" Adam inquired with a slightly sarcastic tone.

"I was, but I realized I couldn't leave and let you guys handle this alone. We were together when it happened and I guess it is only fair if I hang around."

"Good that sounds more like the Mac I have come to know over the years. I was starting to get worried about you." Nick told him.

"So. . . what did the authorities say?" Mac tried to prompt Nick again.

"They will be sending a team to investigate" Nick replied.

Mac just nodded his head. He figured as much. Now all he could do was wait.

* * * * *

Less than a half of an hour later, Mac was sitting at the table working with Adam on some of the translations for other areas of the dig and Nick was administering another sedative to Andie, when they all heard "Hello?"

The three men exchanged glances and Nick and Adam stood to walk out side. The first thing they saw was several men dressed in fatigues each carrying an assortment of weaponry.

"I am looking for Dr. Foster?" One of the soldiers began.

"I am Nick Foster," Nick volunteered.

"I am Colonel Robert Makepeace." Robert said as he and Nick shook hands. He turned to look at his men "Kinch, Carter, LeBeau, Newkirk, and Hogan go secure the scene." He turned back to Nick, "care to tell me what happened?"

"You are here much faster than expected, Nick only called less than an hour ago." Adam interrupted. Now he really wanted to know what was going on for them to come so fast. They must have already been on their way. Why?

"We had already received information that there may be problems at this sight." Makepeace continued. "Right now I really want to know what happened."

Nick began to tell him the story as Adam interjected where necessary. Meanwhile back in the tent, Mac sat back down. 'For crying out loud it had to be Makepeace. He'll know me, but there is nothing I can do about that now. He said they had already gotten word. Had Daniel seen something?' He thought for a while and then he heard movement towards the tent.

"Dr. Foster, first I want to meet this Mr. MacGyver and then I will go inspect the scene. When Mrs. James is able I want to interview her as well, OK?"

"Fine Colonel, MacGyver is in the tent this way." Nick continued.

The three of them entered the tent and Mac knew this was it. He decided to pretend he didn't know any of the soldiers, but figured it was a futile attempt.

Robert walked in and his eyes immediately fell on Mac as he did a classic double take. Robert just stared. 'It can't be Jack. First why would Jack be in Egypt much less at an archeological dig? Secondly, look at the hair. Sometimes buddy I think you need help' he chuckled to himself.

"Colonel?" Adam asked.

It didn't escape Robert's notice that MacGyver's head shot-up as well when Adam asked for the "Colonel". 'It couldn't be. It can't be. Jack here? Impossible!' He stopped and starred at MacGyver and noticed that he was looking right back with a mix of fear and amusement? 'Jack that is Jack, How? It can't be!' In his mind he heard a voice that sounded just like Jack, which said, "You wanna bet?"

* * * * *

Well what do you think? I really hope everyone is still enjoying it! Thanks!

Teri (Garnet_TM@yahoo.com) 5/13/02