"It is past the usual time of the mid-day meal. Would you care to join me?" Teal'c inquired.
"Lunch?" he sighed. "Yeah, I guess a break is a good idea."
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Chapter 2
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A half-hour later and the two men were sitting in the shade alongside one of the excavation's trailers. Their simple lunch finished.
Project Leader Doctor Daniel Jackson surveyed the panorama before them and took mental stock of their progress and status. It had taken 2 and half months to locate the pyramid with seismologic equipment and then another 6 weeks to excavate the north side. Roughly one-third of the pyramid was currently exposed. They'd gained entrance into the structure a little over four months ago.
His eyes roamed the scene from horizon to horizon. The sun was strong as usual, but it wasn't as hot as it had been for the previous five days. Only a slight dip in the temperatures, but it was more than welcome.
Strong sunlight bounced and scattered off everything. No vegetation tempered the bright golden sand or light grey and tan rocks. The unnatural straight lines and angles of the northern half of the pyramid stood out against the sweeping dunes and blue sky.
He assimilated and assessed the scene before him. Comparing it to other digs he'd been on... and to all of the alien worlds that he'd walked on in the past decade.
...
For the first portion of the excavation, the first two and half months, the number of workers and the amount of large equipment had required that Dr. Jackson take on a largely supervisory and administrative role. One that he did not relish.
Now however, the excavation had moved into his favorite arena. It was quieter, slower and... more... personal. Now it was just him, some research assistants and graduate students, a small support crew and staff... and Teal'c.
Daniel greatly appreciated the man's solid presence...his strength and the simple reassurance that radiated from him. Over the past 6 months, Teal'c had visited Daniel's excavation three times. Lending his physical strength when necessary... but at other times, lending Daniel his sage, although usually cryptic, counsel or simply his quiet companionship.
Daniel was currently where he'd always dreamed of being. Lead archeologist on a major dig in Egypt. Discovering and unearthing pieces of history that had been hidden or lost for millennia. Deciphering and unraveling the history, the saga, and the legends, of what had happened here so very long ago.
This was his life's work. It was so quiet here now that the large numbers of workers had left once they'd finished unearthing enough of the pyramid for the archeologists to move inside.
So quiet.
He had time now.
All the time that he wanted.
He could spend a whole day... or several days working his way through some of the inscriptions and hieroglyphics... No one pulled him away from his work. No one was shooting at him.
The fast and terrifying life that they'd led on SG-1 no longer ruled.
He was in charge now.
Project Leader.
Of a major excavation of a previously unknown pyramid in Egypt.
He no longer had to grumble about Jack's sarcastic remarks... or his insensitivity... or his militaristic thinking and methods. He missed that... and he didn't miss that. He missed Jack... but he really -did- like the that fact that he could work on his archeology and translations without being ordered to hastily 'beat feet.' He missed Jack's curmudgeonly demeanor... but he didn't miss the constant terror of war and armed conflict.
He missed the scientific camaraderie with Sam... but he didn't miss seeing her in soldier-mode... automatic weapon ready as her eyes swept the area for danger. He missed the times when he and Sam would team-up and argue a point with Jack... but he didn't miss the times when he felt alone because Sam agreed with Jack's military viewpoint.
The plusses and the minuses.
The pros and the cons.
His years with SG-1 were some of the worst years of his life. The terror of the Goa'uld and the other supervillians that they'd encountered. He'd died... more than once. The horror of war... the necessity of killing... the wrenching brutality... the wounds... the death. Janet had died in his arms. The images of his nightmares. The things he'd seen, the things he'd done. The people lost. Abydos. Shar'e, Skarra. Sarah's years under the control of the Goa'uld.
The images of his nightmares. They often woke him in the middle of the night.
Shaking, sweating... he'd have to lie there and wait for the reality of the present to seep back into him.
But then, his years with SG-1 were also some of the best years of his life. The amazing archeological discoveries on a myriad of alien planets. The transplanted cultures. The diversity of peoples and languages. The Ascended. The Nox. The Asgard. And Jack and Sam and Teal'c... and General Hammond... and Janet... and Cassandra... The people, the friendships.
And the battle against the Goa'uld was finally turned. The Replicators had amazingly been the key to the downfall of the parasitic tyrants. Oh, there were still Goa'uld around, but they did not wield the same power as before. The parasites no longer maintained their positions as false gods over countless planets and systems. They no longer enslaved most of this galaxy. Earth and its allies were currently mopping up the stragglers...
SG-1 was no longer needed to save the world on a weekly basis.
And that was a good thing.
A very good thing.
SG-1 had been what was needed at the time.
And it was no longer needed.
Sad in one respect, but also such a relief.
Such an overwhelming relief.
Daniel had moved on to work on his original life dreams.
Archeological expeditions.
Uncovering the mysteries of the past.
He could have chosen to join one of the exploratory SG teams, but he knew that his heart would never feel right... on another team. Without the others that had made up SG-1. Although, he suspected that Teal'c might have chosen to join him if he'd opted for one of the exploratory teams. But he didn't want his friend to feel that burden of responsibility for him. He wanted his comrade to choose his path in life without guilt.
So, he'd chosen to leave the SG teams that went off-planet. He'd slowed his life down. He was focusing back on Earth. He was focusing back on his archeology and his passion. And Teal'c spent most of his time helping to rebuild Chulak and working with the free Jaffa on myriads of other planets. And when he could, the stoic Jaffa made time to visit Daniel wherever he was on Earth.
Cassandra visited too. She'd been able to come to the excavation site twice on breaks from college. She, like Teal'c, pitched in wherever she could when she was on site. Helping the research assistants and graduate students with the painstaking and careful removal of years of dirt and grime from the face of the relics and inscriptions.
...
"I must leave tomorrow," Teal'c's somber tones brought Daniel out of his reverie and back to the present.
He nodded and smiled at his comrade, "Thanks for coming out here again Teal'c."
The Jaffa nodded and then added, "I should be able to return in two weeks time."
And Daniel silently nodded his acknowledgement as the two men returned their gazes to the excavation tableau before them.
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======== End Chapter 2 =========
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