Seven: Home or

Unexpected Destinations - - Part Four

Tollana - - Early Saturday (Minutes Before Departure)

Elizabeth was late. When she had woken up she could not find SG-1 or Skaara anywhere. She was looking for them when Narim had found her and said that they had went out before she woke, and were currently waiting for her at the Stargate. Just great. She probably looked like some lazy, over-sleeping person - - wait, she was. Oh, well. She made her way as quickly as she could through the maze of buildings until she caught sight of the Tollan-made gate.

Woot! Found it.

She came to a halt right in front of Jack O'Neill. "Sorry, Colonel, sir. Got up late, couldn't find you. Where were you anyway? Well, not that it matters because its not like I need to know anyways, right? I think I'll shut up now so we can go back to Earth."

Jack frowned at the rambling girl. "We're not going back to Earth."

"Wha?" Liz was confused. They weren't going back to Earth? Just the day before she was reminded how she had to go home. "What do you mean?"

"How would you like to take a detour?"

"Detour?"

"Yes," Daniel took over, "you see, we came up with another plan. Since this trip got a little messed up for you we figured we'd extend it."

"Extend it?" She was following, following like a bird on bread crumbs, but she wanted them to say it. (And what is that funny smile on Skaara's face?)

"We have to take Skaara home. How would you like to come to Abydos with us first?"

Liz's mouth dropped open. "Abydos! The planet in which all this began? That Abydos?" She asked, and Jack nodded. Liz squealed happily, grabbing him around the neck in an appreciative hug. "Thank you! That would be so cool!"

"In fact it's really hot." Jack frowned, pretending not to get it. He smiled then added, "actually it was Skaara that came up with the idea. He said you might like to see it, so we talked about it and decided it wouldn't hurt."

Liz turned and looked at the young man. He was grinning broadly. "Thank you, Skaara." She bated her eyelashes at him teasingly. "That was very thoughtful of you." He nodded, and she swore she saw a slight blush momentarily light his cheeks. Adorable!

Abydos

Some might say Abydos was a waste land, full of barren space and burning hot sand-storms. However, to Elizabeth, Abydos was one of the most beautiful places she had ever seen. She was in awe of the pyramid housing the Stargate (which she learned had another name; Chaapa'ai) and the wind-swept sand and the dunes piled for miles upon miles was nothing to sneer at. It was a mighty feat of nature. A beauty to behold to the eyes that were wide with wonder.

"It's amazing." She breathed, as they made their way down a dune. She felt a hand steady her; Skaara. "This is where you live?" She asked, raising her eyes to him.

He smiled. "Yes, this is home." There was a great happiness and nostalgia in his voice. She could only imagine how he had to be feeling. To not see one's home for over two years, especially under the circumstances he had had to endure was incomprehensible

"How far is it to your city, or whatever its called?"

"A little ways." He answered, "not as far away as you probably think, but not as close as you would like."

She grinned. "Isn't that the story of my life."

They walked for a quite a while longer. Liz didn't mind. She had never been to a place like this before, and she was enjoying the warmth of the multiple suns on her face. She hoped she might even get a bit of a tan. She had spent the entire summer at home indoors messing around on the internet and avoiding the sun. She was drastically pale. She glanced down at her hand that was clasped within Skaara's. Compared to his rich, tanned skin she was transparent. She was amused by her thoughts of envy. He was beautiful.

"What is it?" Skaara asked of her smile as they rose above another dune.

"Nothing. It was just a personal thought, so never mind me."

"If you say." He said, slipping his arm around her waist briefly to help her again. "Be careful. If you're not used to it you'll fall." Liz nodded.

)-()-()-()-()-()-()-(

"Look at them." Jack said. He couldn't help but notice the two 'youngsters' getting closer and closer; and not just in friendship, but physical proximity. "I can't figure them out."

"What's to figure out, sir?" Carter asked. "They're friends."

"Friends my ass."

"Oh come on."

"Fine," Jack resigned, "but I don't think that word is going to describe them if they're together for much longer."

Sam shook her head with a smile. Daniel sighed.

)-()-()-()-()-()-()-(

The city was a bustling with activity. They were almost unnoticed as the entered the gates, but once inside they were immediately greeted by many of the Abydonian people. Upon seeing Skaara they became excited. A few of them were around his age and seemed to know him. They became talking quickly in another language. Liz glanced at Daniel, disconcerted. He smiled reassuringly back at her.

"We should get going and see Kasuf." Daniel said to Skaara, and the boy nodded.

"Who is Ka-suf?" Liz pronounced.

"My father." Skaara answered.

"Oh. Then Daniel's right, you should get going."

"I think I'm just going to wander around a bit." Jack said, "you want to come with, Dominic?"

"Sure." Liz said, then to Skaara, "I will see you later will I not?"

"Yes." He replied, and play-warned, "behave yourself, Elizabeth."

"Oh, definitely." She said, before heading off with O'Neill and Carter.

)-()-()-()-()-()-()-(

"So, Dominic, what's up with you and Skaara?" Jack asked as Liz poked around with some strange jewelry. He really wanted to know the truth, and while Carter was off doing whatever she was doing he was going to ask.

Elizabeth turned and frowned at him. "I don't know what you mean." She stated, then went right back to digging through the pile of amulets.

"What are you doing?"

"I gave Skaara my lucky necklace, I'm trying to find something else."

"How are you going to pay for it?"

"I was going to see if I could trade - - do they do that here?"

"I don't know, you'll have to ask Daniel." O'Neill said as they started walking again. "Why did you avoid my question?"

"What question?"

"Come on, Kid, I know you're smarter than that. I asked about whatever is going on between you and Skaara."

Elizabeth sighed. "Listen Colonel, there is nothing between us. We're just two people who met, became friends, and will," she paused, an odd look of pain crossing her face, "have to part very soon. I probably have less than a day left to see him, so whatever you are talking about, or think you are talking about doesn't matter." She began to walk forward, but he caught her arm.

He saw she was very upset about the idea of never seeing him again. "You really do like him, don't you?" He asked.

"If you must know, yes. He's a nice guy. There's a lot of things that make me like him. The best part is his ability to just be my friend. I'm so used to everyone - - except my guy-friends of course - - trying to get close to me for other reasons. Skaara's honest about everything. He has this amazing depth to his personality I hardly ever see. He's completely open to let everyone see who he really is. He doesn't hide behind a falsity. He doesn't throw on a veil to mislead others. Skaara is just Skaara."

"It sounds like you more than just like him."

"You're right, Colonel. I really care for him, and I have to admit I'm having serious crushing right now, but its just a crush. It's the kind of feeling that will fade and leave a strong friendship. Unfortunately I will never get to see that stage of our relationship. So if you mind leaving me alone about it." She dropped her eyes.

"I'm sorry for bothering you about it then."

She nodded. "I'm going to go find Sam, if that's all right."

"Yeah. Go see about Sam." He let her go. He knew she was lying about her feelings, even if she didn't realize it. He also knew that whatever she was feeling wasn't exclusive. He saw the same looks in Skaara that Liz had. He felt really bad about the fact Elizabeth would probably never see Skaara again.

Maybe…

No.

They couldn't.

Or could they?

)-()-()-()-()-()-()-(

Elizabeth was alone again. Her life was a cycle of being alone and pretending she didn't feel that way when she was with her friends. Only Lynn and Tobias, another one of their friends, knew how Liz really felt. It was hard to not feel left out for someone like her. She was the child of two very busy business people who only paid attention to her when it was necessary. Her older brothers were prodigies and got more praise than Elizabeth would ever receive. All Liz wanted was to be a part of something.

She had found that. For those brief moments on Tollana she had been part of something; something amazing and wonderful and exciting. Now she felt that high draining off, the fading effect leaving an anomic sickness on her heart. She would go home and all of this would be over. She would say goodbye to SG-1; the sarcasm of O'Neill, the kind words of Daniel Jackson, the intelligence of Sam, and the stoic peace of Teal'c. She would say goodbye to Skaara and his wonderfully mischievous smile.

With a sigh she dropped into a sitting position on the sand. The suns were falling in the sky and in a few hours she figured it would be dark. She wondered whether they would spend the night here, or head back before it got too dark to travel.

"Elizabeth!"

She jumped at the sudden sound and snapped her head toward the speaker. "Skaara."

"I have been looking everywhere for you." He said, sitting down beside her. "Actually, everyone had been looking for you, and O'Neill is very worried. He said you were upset the last time the two of you spoke, although, he would not tell me why."

Liz sighed. "I guess I'm just a little depressed is all."

"For what reason?"

"I dunno." She lied, forcing a smile, "I just get this way sometimes. Why have they been looking for me? Are they ready to leave?"

"Oh, no. Colonel O'Neill just said he had a surprise for you. It has something to do with me, actually, but he said not to tell you anything."

"Of course not." She replied, but was getting intrigued. What kind of surprise would the Colonel have for her that also had to do with Skaara? She felt bad now for snapping at him earlier. Jack was a nice guy, a little sarcastic and hard sometimes, but nice. "Anything else?"

"I was hoping for you to meet some of my other friends, but I could not find you."

"I'm sorry." She apologized, "as you can see I was off self-pitying. Can you forgive me?" She gave him a mild form of puppy-dog eyes and he smiled at her.

"Of course." He said, there was a brief pause before he asked quietly, "there is a celebration tonight. You can come if you like, unless you would prefer sitting up here until you have to leave."

"No. I think I will step off my pedestal of woe for a while. If you don't mind."

"Not at all." He climbed to his feet and stretched his hand down. She reached up and took it, then found herself surprised at the strength in which he lifted her to her feet. "You all right?" He asked.

"Uh, yes." She placed one hand over her forehead. "I just felt dizzy for a moment."

"Are you sure?" He looked worried. Why did everyone always look at her like she was going to fall to pieces?

"Yes. Very sure." She answered, then went into her chipper mode. She grasped his hand. "Come on. We can't be late for your own party now can we!"

"I suppose not."

)-()-()-()-()-()-()-(

When they got back Skaara was immediately bombarded by excited friends, even more than they had first encountered upon their arrival, but he never let go of her hand and pulled her through the crowd. "Aren't you going to talk to them?" Liz asked, after he politely excused himself and drug her away. "You just got back."

"Yes, and I can see them everyday, but you are leaving. I spent the last few hours looking for you, now I have found you. I am not letting you out of my sight."

"How possessive." She cracked humorously.

"Just trying to get to know my new friend better."

"So I am your friend?" She inquired,

"Yes, you did not know this?" He smiled, "so smart, yet - -"

"Stop right there." She said, seeing where that joke was heading. "If you do not wish to encounter great pain you will be quiet."

"Being quiet." He promised.

"You don't mind me saying something do you?"

"You say a lot of things, I do not mind those."

She rolled her eyes. "You're really funny, you know that."

"I've been told. Continue." He said seriously. "What do you wish to say?"

"I wanted to say, uh, I think," she dropped her eyes bashfully, then raised them again. "I think you're adorable."

"What?" He seemed surprised.

Oh, boy. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"No, no, it's fine. I just, well, no one has ever called me 'adorable' before. At least not to my face. I've overheard conversations though."

"You mean you listened in." She prodded.

"Hey, I was younger." He defended himself. "So you think I am adorable?"

She nodded. "And a little annoying sometimes, but other than that, you're pretty okay."

"Nice to know." He said.

"Hello kids!" A sing-song voice cried. "Dominic, there you are." It was Colonel O'Neill. "See, Skaara, I told ya you'd find her. Come join the festivities! Food, drink! Did I mention the food?"

Elizabeth laughed. "Yes, sir."

The two of them got up and headed out to follow O'Neill. As Liz passed Jack caught her arm. "Go ahead, Skaara, we'll catch up." The teenager nodded, knowing what Jack meant.

"What is it?" Liz asked.

"We were thinking - -"

"You do a lot of that. Who is we?"

"Myself, Daniel, well, everybody. We were thinking that perhaps, since things have changed a bit, that you might like to, I don't know, come back."

"What do you mean?"

"I asked Hammond and he said that if you wish you can come and visit Skaara all you like."

She stopped walking, the shock freezing her. "What?"

"The General gave you permission to visit, Dominic."

"Oh, thank you, O'Neill!" She cried, throwing her arms around him tightly. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Oh, don't thank me, thank Hammond."

"No, sir, I think you deserve the thanks. I'm sorry about earlier."

He waved his hand. "Oh, stop."

Liz grinned. "I mean it, Colonel."

"Well, go mean it elsewhere. I think Skaara is waiting for you."

Liz nodded, grinning, and hurried on.

)-()-()-()-()-()-()-(

Elizabeth had never had a time as great as the small portion she spent on Abydos. Everybody was so nice, especially Skaara's friends, who seemed very pleased to meet another from Earth their own age. Unfortunately it had to end.

"I can't wait to see you again." Liz said. They were standing before the Stargate, minutes from returning to Earth. "Six months seems like a long time."

"It will pass before you know it." Skaara said, but reached inside his pocket and pulled something out. "Here, it's my most prized possession. You may keep it until we see each other again." In her hand he placed a small silver lighter.

"Collateral?" She joked.

"No, to remember me by."

"I'll miss you." She smiled and hugged him.

"Dominic! Let's get goin'!" O'Neill shouted.

"Goodbye." She said hurriedly.

"Goodbye." He echoed. "Six months?"

"See you then."

Then she was gone through the wormhole, so ending her first big adventure. But her story isn't over, as you soon will see…

tbc…

Whadaya think? Hope it's good. A little longer than some of my last chapters, but not that much. I meant to write a little more to it, and had to leave out a scene I wanted, but I guess I can save that for later.

R&R

Next Chapter: Entanglements

The SGC is forcibly seized and SG-1, who have managed to escape, need Liz and Lynn's help. It's the girls' time to shine…