AN: Long time no post, campers. Sorry again for being so long between postings again. Instead of saying the same thing over again, let's just face it, going to school means there will some time between postings. *Why is it the writing bug only bites when I have other commitments they need to take priority? * grrr Anyway, I will try to keep that time short though and try to keep things interesting.
But enough about me…time for our show.
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"Say again?" Sam sat across from Jonas not quite knowing what to think. Jonas was a genius and normally very good at twisting a tale when circumstances required, but he could almost never fool her. "Jenna's been working with her dad and been keeping it a secret the whole time from everyone except you?"
"That's not what I said," he replied, eyebrows raised. He knew it was a transparent story the moment he started talking. He honestly didn't know what he was thinking by even starting this conversation. It really hadn't been his place to say anything, but he hoped that Jenna would understand. He knew her well enough to know that even if they hadn't shared thoughts, she would probably be a bit relieved that Sam now knew. He hoped. "This is purely hypothetical."
"Whatever, Jonas," Sam replied, a slight grin playing across her lips. She was surprised that he'd been able to keep the secret from her as long as he had. Jonas had a tendency to wear his emotions plain as day if he didn't make a conscious effort to hide them. "So, who is it?"
"I really can't say."
"Come on, Jonas. The cat's out of the bag and has made it around the corner. Who's the daddy?"
"We think it may be Col. Wilcox."
"Her CO!?"
"Yeah."
"They've been working together for months. Do you realize she could have compromised the safety of her team if something happened and she let any feelings she may have for her father get in the way of her judgment or obeying an order?"
"You've managed to do it."
"That's different," Sam replied a bit defensively, "the Colonel and I are both military and hold ourselves to the standards set up by the Air Force's code of conduct."
"I was talking about you and your *father,*" Jonas stated, eyeing the Major speculatively.
"Oh. Well…I knew that. I just meant that…since we're practically family…ya know. It was a better example since I don't work with my father that often." Sam watched the gears turn as Jonas continued to eye her and thought she'd better divert his attention quick before he jumped to a conclusion she didn't even want to ponder. "So, Col. Wilcox, huh?"
"That's what I said," he replied, letting whatever that was go. "She went off to see him awhile ago. I've just been sitting here twiddling my thumbs when I should have insisted upon going with her." Just thinking about it had Jonas pacing the floor and wringing his hands.
"Don't worry about it, Jonas," Sam said reassuringly. "Jenna's a very strong person. She's died and come back to life for goodness sake. She can handle this."
"Considering the company she keeps, that means a lot." Jonas stopped pacing to cock a brow at his friend. "Could you face the Colonel if it were you?"
"I think I'd rather be fighting the Goa'uld," Sam replied with a wide-eyed smile, "they're less complicated and all I have to do is shoot them if they give me a hard time. All kidding aside, though, if it were I, it would be hard but I'd do it. Despite having friends that are like family, I'd want to know who my father was and want him to get to know me in return. That's not really time I could share with anyone else if I'd lost as much time with my father as Jenna had. The fact that this is an alternate reality from her own wouldn't change the way Jenna is probably feeling about this whole situation."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Jonas said, finally taking a seat. "So I guess we wait and see what happens. Hey, I just learned how to play checkers, want to play?"
"How about lunch?" Sam said smiling. She got up and headed for the door pretty much indicating that was what she was going to do whether Jonas joined her or not.
Sighing he stood back up and followed Sam out the door thinking about how this wasn't the first time Sam had done this whenever he propose something that she didn't want to do. And it probably won't be the last, he thought smiling in spite of himself as they made their way down to the mess hall.
******
Later…
Jenna walked into her quarters and closed the door. It was just past noon, yet she already felt drained. Going to her bunk she stretched out and rested her head upon her hands. She stared up at the ceiling and thought about the events of the day. Thanks to Jack, she still hadn't talked to Wilcox, but perhaps it was for the best. Jack was right to suggest that she be sure about her CO before telling him anything. Before now, Jenna had been absolutely sure that Wilcox was her father but now, now there were doubts. And the fact that he had a family made Jenna even more hesitant to say anything.
Have you changed your mind?
About what?
Don't play games, Jenna, Emillynn replied, not bothering to hide the irritation she felt. If the tests prove positive, are you still going to tell Wilcox that you are his daughter?
I don't know. What right would I have? In this world I was never born and as much as I would like to have a father in my life, I couldn't bear causing such a complication in his. I think simply knowing for sure should be enough.
Maybe you should take more time to think about this. We're scheduled to go back to the Tok'ra base in the morning for my debriefing. Instead of coming back after, maybe we should stay awhile.
Weren't we supposed to do that anyway? Jenna asked, a slight smile playing across her lips.
Yes, but that's beside the point, she replied matter-of-factly. You know that the decision to stay here or with the Tok'ra has to be a mutual agreement between the two blended parties. Colonel O'Neill made sure that was included in the treaty so you won't have to worry about being forced into anything.
I know, Emillynn, that's not what I meant.
The point is, you need time to think about this and SG-8 won't be going anywhere for a while anyway.
I suppose. It *will* give me a chance to get an idea of what the Tok'ra of this reality are like, and time to gain some perspective.
What? Are my memories and experiences not enough?
No offense, Emillynn, Jenna said with a smirk, but when was the last time you spent any significant amount of time with the other Tok'ra? You spend all your time gathering information and only see the others long enough to report whatever you find. I want to be able to understand them from my own perspective, not another's.
Just then Jenna turned her head to the sound of knocking. Getting up, she walked over and pulled open the door. Jenna brought her hand to her head as Emillynn slightly shifted. Settle down, Emillynn, you're going to give me a headache.
"Jonas?" Jenna smiled and took him into her arms in a warm embrace. "I'm sorry I didn't come to see you, I had a lot on my mind."
"That's alright," Jonas smiled as he closed the door and joined her as she sat back down on the bunk. "Well, what happened?"
"I didn't tell him yet. Jack suggested…Owww!" Jenna grabbed her head as Emillynn shifted in a violent move. Emillynn!!!
"Jenna?" Jonas said, putting a hand on her shoulder, showing concern.
It's not him, Jenna! Reetou!
Jenna looked up at Jonas, her hand still gripping her head. She reached out through the connection they shared and found Jonas in the mess hall with Sam. Her eyes went wide with the realization and she began to stand. The Reetou's grip on her shoulder tightened and he quickly brought his hand to Jenna's throat. Jenna reacted just as quickly and struck out at his face. Though his head went back with the blow, his grip remained firm and she felt herself being pulled off her feet as he flung her across the small room and into the wall. The impact was tremendous and she felt the crack of her skull as the back of her head bounced off the concrete wall.
Jenna fell to the floor hard and attempted to push herself up. She tried to raise her head but found herself unable to focus on anything. Hearing the approach of footsteps, Jenna let her training take over. Once he was close enough she quickly swung her legs around and swept him off his feet. The momentum of the act made her fall on her back and Emillynn took over in time to avoid a blow as the Reetou, still in the guise of Jonas, brought his heal down hard where she had just been lying.
Emillynn, whatever it takes.
Whatever it takes. Both knew that they couldn't let the Reetou get away now that it had reveled itself, and it was understood that no amount of damaged to their own person should get in the way of that.
Emillynn rolled to her feet and almost lost her balance in the process. Her vision began to clear as she worked on healing the swelling in Jenna's occipital lobe at the same time trying to anticipate the Reetou's next move. The Reetou was on his feet and coming at her. He swung his right fist at her and she ducked under it towards her left then grabbed his wrist with her own right hand and pushed his shoulder with her other hand, tossing him into the back wall. Emillynn then grabbed Jenna's desk chair and brought it about to swing at him. The Reetou managed to grab it before it could connect and yanked it from Emillynn's hands. He turned with the momentum he'd used to grab the chair and brought it all the way around and slammed her with it, the force of which sent her sailing into the wall above the bunk. She'd barely hit the bunk when she felt the chair being slammed into her, not just once but repeatedly.
Jenna, call to Jonas now! While you can!
Jenna understood. They hadn't a chance now and this thing couldn't be allowed to have any more access to the base, as it apparently has for the past two days, without anyone knowing it. She reached out with her mind to warn him and found that he was already hurrying to her quarters. She felt his anxiousness just before the last blow struck her body with a force that finally collapsed the metal hinges of the bunk.
Jenna snapped back into her body before she could do more than leave an impression with Jonas. The pain she felt was unbearable and she could barely move, and Emillynn was already attempting to heal the massive damage that was done to both of them. All Jenna could do was shift her eyes until she found him standing above her with a look of pure malice. She never thought she'd see that look in Jonas' face and took some small comfort in the fact that she never would on the real Jonas.
Jenna watched as the Reetou placed a hand into his pocket and pulled something out. He held a small device in his hand and turned a small disc on top of it. His features then started to blur and Jenna thought at first that she was blacking out when in fact he was changing the façade he'd taken for another one. She was suddenly staring up at her own face.
So that's how they do it. That was her last thought before she finally succumbed to her injuries and blacked out.
***
AN: Poor Jenna just can't get a break, so to speak. Well, folks how did you like that? I thought it was time to spice things up a bit. I was getting slightly more dramatic than I had planned and I can only change the category so many times to try to match that which I'm writing. Although, frankly I should place it in General just to cover my bases. Anyway, tell me what you think. And thanks again for reading!