Dinner was not a quiet affair. Gallagher didn't know if he would be welcome with either SG-1 or the group of lieutenants and finally decided to eat on his own. He grabbed some food as he went through the commissary line and headed for a table in the corner. He was aware of the looks he was getting from some of the other diners, probably thinking of his age. He sat down to dig in and appease the hunger that had been building for a few hours now. He had been unable to eat all day worrying about the meeting at SGC.
"What are you doing here kid?" A big guy came by and grabbed an empty chair at the table Jack was sitting at.
"Eating dinner," Gallagher said. Wonderful, a Marine. Man he hated those guys some times. Of course, when his ass was on the line, the Marines were really handy to have around.
"Shouldn't you be home doing your homework?" Big Guy asked. "What do you guys think? Should he be home getting ready for beddie bye?" Other Marines were gathering around.
"Leave him alone Thompson," one his buddies said. "He's just a kid."
"So why are you here kid?" asked Big Guy not taking the hint.
"I've already told you, I'm having dinner," Gallagher said.
"Okay, let's make it easy for the little boy," Big Guy said moving his chair menacingly closer. "Why are you even here in the SGC?"
"Is that what this place is called?" Gallagher said making a show of looking around the room. "I thought it was called the commissary."
It was pretty obvious that Big Guy didn't like that answer because he stood up suddenly and grabbed Gallagher's jacket, dragging him up off his seat. "Wise guys don't last long around here kid," Big Guy snarled, "Especially when you are talking to a Captain."
Gallagher supposed it was a little too late to realize that he probably shouldn't have gotten smart with this guy, but he figured it went with the O'Neill charm. The Gallagher charm, he corrected himself.
"I apologize for my words sir," he said adding emphasis on the last word. It made him feel a little more in control knowing he could say the word "sir" anyway he wanted, as long as he said the word.
"You still haven't answered my question," Big Guy said not letting go of the jacket. Gallagher really wished he would as it was hard to feel in control when your feet didn't touch the ground.
"I told you I don't know how many times I…."
"Is there a problem here?" Teal'c! Oh yeah, Gallagher thought. I am definitely going to have to remember to thank this guy.
"This kid doesn't know the proper way to treat his superior officers," Big Guy said, deciding it was a good time to let go of Gallagher's clothing.
"Thank you," Gallagher said to Big Guy as he straightened his jacket. "I spent a lot of time pressing this thing for my meeting today. I wanted to look my spiffiest."
"I will dine with you," Teal'c said to Gallagher. "We have much to talk about."
Big Guy gave up with a snarl and a dirty look directed at Gallagher before walking back to the table where his friends were lounging.
"Was it wise to antagonize the Captain?" Teal'c asked as he set his tray down on the table.
"Well you know, I didn't really mean to antagonize him," Gallagher said picking up his fork. "I just answered his question and he got a little huffy. Can't imagine what he was thinking."
"He saw you as a young Flyboy who should be an easy target," Teal'c announced.
"Flyboy, Teal'c?" Gallagher's surprise was evident. "Where do you pick up these sayings?"
"I have been around long enough to pick up several sayings that I try to use at appropriate times."
"Well, I do want to thank you for showing up when you did. Saves me from having to face the General's wrath."
"Indeed? Why would the General be angry with you?" Teal'c inquired. "You responded to the Captain as he would have had he been in your shoes."
"Yeah, well I know that, but….." Wait, Gallagher thought, "Teal'c?"
"You were right about being the same person, I just needed to be reminded of it," Teal'c said. He stared into the eyes of his friend's younger self. "It is difficult to understand all that goes on in a person and I hastily determined the contents of a book by the trappings."
"Judged a book by its cover, Teal'c," Gallagher corrected his old friend with a grin. It felt good to talk with his friend like this.
"Yes," he said grinning back. "You will have to remember that our new situation will require some patience, as will I." His expression had grown grave as he spoke.
"Teal'c. I have been Jack O'Neill for 50 plus years, all those decisions made during those years were decisions I made. I went through those experiences, felt the same terror and disgust during the most trying times and cried the same tears at my son's funeral. I realize that all this is trapped in a younger man's body, but I still went through those experiences. I was there when we went to get Jacob Carter out of hell and sometimes I think I am still there trying to get out of a bad dream, desperately reaching for something that is not there."
Gallagher suddenly ran his fingers through his hair and dropped his head into his hands. "Ah God, what a mess." He looked up at Teal'c and gave him a weak smile. "Hey, I keep telling myself I have a second chance at life and what do I do? Head straight back to the good old SGC."
"I'm glad you did," Carter said from behind him nearly giving him a heart attack. "I've often wondered what became of that cute kid who claimed he was Colonel O'Neill."
"You think I'm cute?" Gallagher asked, giving her his best smile. "You aren't so bad looking yourself."
Carter just rolled her eyes and sat down next to Teal'c. Daniel sat down next to Gallagher and nodded at Lieutenant Carrows who was sitting several tables away. "She's kinda cute too, don't you think?"
Gallagher looked over at Carrows and realized with a start that all three of his "cohorts" were openly watching him, the Cadet who dared smart off to a Lieutenant Colonel and a General.
"Yeah, I suppose so," he told Daniel. "She's been giving me the eye."
"Which eye?" Teal'c asked with a straight face. Even Carter joined in the laughter at his words.
Gallagher found his way to his quarters easily enough and lay down on his bunk. It had been a long day, most of it spent worrying about the remainder of it and he was tired. He supposed that he should get up and undress, at least take his shoes off, but he wasn't sure he could do it now that he was on his back.
No one had told him if he was supposed to be a part of tomorrow's training stint with the Lieutenants, he figured he would show up anyway, just in case. They knew he was more than capable of handling whatever they threw at him and they may want him there to help the others get out alive. But for now, he just wanted sleep.
It wasn't long before he heard the voice. It only came to him just before a nightmare and he steeled himself for what he knew was coming, while at the same time desperately trying to wake himself up. The voice never failed to warn him, yet he still could not fight the terrors of the night as they came creeping up on him.
"Is it you?" the voice whispered. "You should not have come." Gallagher began to struggle in his dream, willing himself to waken knowing he never could before.
The dreams were rarely the same, except that he always woke up in a cold sweat or screaming and he hated it. Wake up, Jack. God damn it, wake up!
"He will know it is you," the woman's voice was soothing for all the terror that followed it. He supposed he should be glad for the warning, but for some reason the soothing voice was the hardest to take.
The darkness soon turned to gray as he realized that he was in the holding cell in Apophis' domain. The people who huddled there along with him and Skar'a screamed and began to run when Apophis demanded they all be killed.
Jack couldn't run. He was rooted to the spot, standing there waiting for the next knife to be thrown, knowing almost where it would hit when it was. He cried out for Teal'c, but Teal'c just stood there watching as Ba'al let go of the knife. The agony was incredible and Jack looked down to see a sword sticking out of his stomach, the blood dripping over the blade to the floor. "Teal'c," he murmured. "Teal'c."
Ba'al's face swam before his eyes as a bottle of pain was held out. Jack knew what that bottle held and what Ba'al was going to do with it. He tried to reach out to Teal'c and saw Carter smiling at him, releasing a drop of the liquid agony.
"No!" he screamed, as he sat straight up in bed, gasping for air. He ran his hands through his hair and lay back with his hands covering his face. Oh God, he thought. He wondered if the General still had those dreams, knowing the answer even as he formed the thought. Yeah.
Deciding that he really should get out of his dress uniform, he rose and headed for the bathroom to rinse the last of that dream off of his face. Damn, that was a particularly nasty one.
Heading back to his bunk, he quickly changed clothes and lay down again. He put his arms under his head and stared at the springs of the bunk above him. What the hell was that dream about anyway?
He laid there most of the night, thinking about the dream and the people he missed so much during his time away, finally falling asleep sometime before dawn.
Gallagher woke a few hours later to the sound of a knock on the door. It was Lieutenant Michaels telling him to get his ass in gear. The day had already started.
He showered, shaved and put on the BDUs given to him when he arrived the day before. Despite the hour, he was still early and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast and coffee. He was halfway through it when his two female cohorts asked him if they could join him.
He invited them to sit down with a wave of his hand. Both sat, apparently deciding to ignore the fact that he didn't stand up when they arrived.
"I was very impressed with your presentation about the Goa'uld yesterday," Carrows said. She picked up her napkin and laid it down in her lap, causing Gallagher to raise an eyebrow.
"Yes," Bartlett chimed in. "How is it you know so much about an enemy that only a chosen few are allowed to know?" She speared a piece of waffle with her fork and brought it to her mouth.
"Um… I met up with them not too long ago," Gallagher said, watching Carrows bite into the pancake she had speared with her fork. A little syrup lingered on her lip and Gallagher decided he wasn't hungry anymore. He had to get out of there. Back off, Jack, he told himself for what seemed like the millionth time.
He started to get up when the General himself came up to them. This time, Gallagher remembered his manners and stood up along with everyone else in the room, it seemed.
O'Neill nodded and sat down at the table next to Carrows. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything?" he asked as reached over and snatched a piece of Gallagher's toast.
"No sir," Bartlett said. "I'm pleased that you are here." Is that a simper, Gallagher wondered.
"Thanks, but I really wanted to talk with the Cadet."
"And to eat my food it seems," Gallagher said with a frown.
"Oh, sorry. Guess I should have asked," O'Neill said, looking for all the world like he didn't plan to ask in the very near future. "Have a good night Cadet?" he asked as he spread some jelly on the bread.
"Like a baby sir," Gallagher responded, wondering how O'Neill knew.
"Not what I heard," O'Neill said as he grabbed Gallagher's cup and took a drink of coffee. "Ah! Just the way I like it."
"Oh? And just what did you hear? And who did you hear it from? Sir." Gallagher was starting to really not like his counterpart.
O'Neill just gave him a grin and grabbed another piece of toast.
"Can I get you your own breakfast sir?" Gallagher said between clenched teeth. He really hadn't ever realized how irritating he could be. He was starting to sympathize with his professors.
"Nah, not hungry," said O'Neill as he grabbed a slice of bacon off of Gallagher's plate. "Already ate," he said through a mouthful of Gallagher's food. "Just thought I would see how you are doing, this being your first night on base."
"Fine, thank you sir," Gallagher snapped out. "Slept like a baby," he repeated stubbornly.
"Uh huh," O'Neill said unconvinced while taking another sip of the coffee. "See you at 0900, Cadet. Don't be late." He got up and smiled at the ladies, "Forgive me for not staying to enjoy your company. Duty calls." With that he nodded to Gallagher and left.
"Just what is going on here Cadet," Bartlett said, moving in for the kill. "Report," she barked.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean ma'am," Gallagher said with what he hoped was his most innocent look. "Other than the General eating my breakfast, I ….."
"Who are you to him?" Bartlett all but growled, not letting him finish his sentence. "He is a Brigadier General, for God's sake, and you two act like you are brothers."
"Ma'am, I'm really sorry, but I don't have any answers for you," Gallagher said looking over at Carrows, who had stayed quiet throughout the whole scene.
"Don't lie to me Gallagher," Bartlett said. "I had to work my butt off to get this far and you just waltz in here after only one year at the Academy. What's your secret?" Her eyes blazed with anger and he could see the indignation shimmering behind them.
"I spent some time here a few years back ma'am, and had already proven myself to the General as to my worth. It was decided back then that I would be assigned here when the time came. I guess they decided to bring me in earlier than normal." Gallagher really hoped this would pacify the raging woman standing in front of him. He didn't need another enemy.
"How did you prove your worth?" Carrows finally spoke up.
Oh boy, how to answer that one. "Uh, I …well it's classified until I am told otherwise. From the General. Ma'am," he added.
"Classified," Bartlett said staring at him with eyes that seemed to try to bore into his very soul. He so hoped he would never have to be under her command.
"Yes ma'am. Classified."
Escape Gallagher. Go now! "If you'll excuse me I would like to check on something before I meet with the General." He left the minute Carrows nodded, feeling like he'd just escaped the gallows.
He headed straight for the briefing room where he was supposed to meet his cohorts and O'Neill, ending up at the window facing the Stargate. The blast doors were open today, whereas yesterday they were closed, and Gallagher felt like he was greeting another old friend.
The Stargate stood there in all its glory, the metal seemed to gleam, although Gallagher figured that was just a trick of the light. Yet he still stared at it, following along the edge of the circle, not able to see the individual symbols, but knowing they were there anyway. Remembering the first time he ever went through the portal to the stars.
He remembered how the fear of the unknown had crept into his being, even as he contemplated the mission details, knowing he would not be returning to this place. He remembered the elation and the adrenalin racing through his body as he took that first step into the swirling pool vortex, the cold and the darkness of the space he stepped into upon exiting the gate. God, if he only knew then what he knew now.
Gallagher heard O'Neill come up behind him and he closed his eyes to get his bearings before doing battle again.
"Magnificent, isn't it?" O'Neill asked.
"Yeah," Gallagher breathed and turned to look at the General. "I was just remembering the first time I went through that thing. Remember? General West had to practically force Daniel Jackson on us."
"Me," O'Neill said. "He had to force him on me. Not us, me."
"C'mon Jack, if I can accept it so can you." Sometimes Gallagher just wanted to smack that idiot upside the head.
"I've accepted it," O'Neill said. "It just gives me a headache trying to grasp the whole concept," he groused.
"Quit complaining. At least you don't have to do everything all over again. Although I definitely plan to pass on some of the more colorful adventures I've had. No need to repeat those black op missions, right?"
O'Neill gave him an indecipherable look, than grinned and said, "Don't blame you one bit on that stuff. Speaking of which," he continued. "Want to talk about your nightmare?"
"No."
"Just wondered if it was the same as mine," O'Neill said.
"You first," Gallagher said.
"No way, I asked you first."
"So? I asked you second," Gallagher countered.
The two men looked at each other and grinned. They stood in silence for awhile looking at the gateway that led to their destinies, each lost in their own thoughts.
"Do you still hear her voice in your dreams?" Gallagher asked.
"The warning?"
"Yeah."
O'Neill turned back to view the Stargate. "Can't get away from it, I guess."
Silence again, for just a few moments then O'Neill spoke. "I find the softness comforting even as I begin to panic."
Gallagher just nodded his head. He knew exactly what the General was talking about and wholeheartedly agreed.
The General saw the nod and turned back to the Stargate. "We are a lot alike, you and I. I can admit it," he said. "It still gives me a headache thinking of all the possibilities and the chaos, but, yeah. I can admit it."
Gallagher nodded. Yep, that's all he was asking for.