Whew.
First of all, my profound apologies at how long it's taken me to update between chapters 8 and 9. I've got a story due at the end of July for a challenge in the HP fandom, and it's been kicking my butt. ::grins:: Now I'm stuck in the middle of that story and figured, hey - why not jump back and try to dig a little deeper into this story?
To everyone who's reviewed, a huge, huge thanks. It really does feed the beast.
To all those who wrote requesting pairings, a sad fact: this story is Gen. I really just started writing it because I like the action and I wanted the SG-1 team and the Scooby Gang to party. So that's what this is. Them partying. If you're a slasher at heart (as I am) you can probably catch a whiff of pre-slash to whet your palette. If you're anti-slash, they're all just good friends.
To Amber Penglass: You're completely right and I even thought about it, but I didn't know the correct terminology. I should have researched better. I knew that if they were Navy, it would have been "sailor," and if they were Air Force, it would have been "airman," but I had no clue what the distinction was for Marines. And the Tok'Ra thing? Total cock up. Mea Culpa. I'll go back and fix it when I can.
Anyway, here's the next chapter. I'm hopefully (cross fingers and knock wood) going to try to update at least once a week from here on out, but July is a little tricky given the above-mentioned situation. Once that story is out of my hair, I'll be much more regular, I promise.
Cross my heart.
Now back to our regularly scheduled program.
Chapter 10Jack was completely disgusted.
"Daniel, Teal'c," he commanded, "We're out of here."
"Just a minute, Jack." Daniel was looking at the book, studying the description of the demon. He looked at Giles, "Sumerian?"
Giles nodded, startled. "As a matter of fact, yes."
"That may be the answer, Jack." Daniel said. "What if one of these things got out through the Stargate? The last one here could have died out, while more bred on other planets."
There was a silence.
"Hooo-kay." Xander said.
Willow looked disturbed. "I think you should explain that sentence."
Daniel looked at Jack, then he looked down and frowned. "Um. Yes. Well...first you should hear the rest of Sgt. Miller's report."
Everyone's gaze swung back to Graham Miller.
"There's not much else." He said. "The HST..."
"Hostile Sub-terranean." Buffy interjected, rolling her eyes.
"...entered the chamber we were in. It got Lt. Finn with one of those quills, she went down and we returned fire. Lt. Finn - Riley - was carrying Lt. Finn - Sam - and we were laying down cover. But, like I said, bullets didn't phase it, and neither did our electricity guns. It just kept shooting those quills and then the portal seemed to be dissolving, and Riley ordered me to stop shooting and find you."
"And you left him there?" Buffy sounded dangerous. Her eyes were narrowed and she took a step toward the soldier.
"NO!" Graham was adamant. "I kept firing...I told him I couldn't leave him..." his eyes were haunted.
"He...he dropped his gun...he dropped his wife ...he had three of those damn quills in him...and he still had so much strength...My God...he grabbed me and he pushed...practically threw me into the portal..." Graham's voice broke, "he...oh, my god..."
It took a moment for Graham to get himself under control.
"The portal was...unstable...and I just kept ...falling...and then I was outside...but I wasn't in Utah..."
"Or Kansas." Jack muttered.
"I didn't know where I was. Nothing looked familiar; I mean, it was like no place I'd ever been to in my life." Graham looked up again. "They changed the sun..."
There was an intake of breath from the Slayer. Xander and Willow exchanged troubled looks.
Graham went on, crystal-blue eyes staring off into the middle distance. "And then Teal'c and Major Carter found me and that's when I met Col. O'Neill and Dr. Jackson. And...and...they brought me...home..."
Everyone was quiet for a moment.
"You had no choice, Sgt." Jack's voice was gentle.
"I left him there, Sir!" Graham's voice was sharp, but everyone could hear the pain in it.
"He made you do it." Buffy added. She and Jack exchanged weary, understanding looks. "You did the best you could."
"And we're going to get him back, Graham." Willow said reassuringly. She looked at Giles. "We are going to get him back, right?"
"Yes." Buffy said firmly. "Giles?"
Giles and Daniel were poring over three more books, having a quiet conversation in some language neither Jack nor Buffy could recognize. They looked up.
"We're...working on it." Giles said. He and Daniel peered over their glasses at the group, looking disturbingly similar. Giles waved a hand, "Why don't you...um...patrol?" He indicated a small chest.
"Research party!" Willow exclaimed happily. Daniel smiled at her.
Buffy and Jack looked at each other. Neither looked happy about the delay, but Graham was practically vibrating with rage and grief. They understood the need to get him out of the way while Giles and Daniel figured out what the hell was going on.
"Right." Jack said.
"Patrolling." Buffy said. She picked up the chest and jerked her head at Jack, Xander and Teal'c. "C'mon, guys. Let's see what LA has to offer the slayer-about-town."
Graham looked at her, nostrils flaring; she met his look squarely, not backing down an inch.
"You too, Graham," she tossed him a stake, "what say we go work on some...anger management?"