They left the car at the Denny's parking lot but Jacob kept the keys in his jacket pocket. Because it was such a lovely morning they decided to walk around town to the mall. Full and wired from all the coffee they drank, the team was enjoying their walk in the sun. Even Jack wasn't going to complain about walking. His knees didn't hurt anymore, so there was nothing to complain about.
Denny's was fun. They were there for two hours eating and talking. The waitress was even nice enough to bring them coffee, after Jacob handed her a twenty-dollar bill. He really knew how to flash a sweet smile and get what he wanted.
Jack had to hand it to Jacob; he was really taking advantage of this opportunity of being a kid again. Even using the advantage of being a kid by acting so innocent and sweet, when Jack knew better! Jacob was a terror. Shit, so was Jack! What did Janet tell them the other day…'you two are no angels!'
'Damn right!' he thought as he glanced at Jacob beside him.
When Jack glanced at Jacob, the two silently knew what the other was thinking. And as the team neared the middle of the park Jack and Jacob started an impromptu snowball fight! As usual, poor Daniel was the target. If he would only try to fight back Jack and Jacob wouldn't pick on him so much. Instead, he sniveled and whined, which only enticed them to pick on him more. Even Carter chucked a few snowballs at Daniel!
Luckily it was Saturday. No one questioned what four kids were doing playing in the park at nine o'clock in the morning. But every now and then Jack couldn't shake the feeling that there were going to be caught at any moment. Only to have Jacob encourage him to relax and have fun.
Eventually they made it to the mall. Sam wanted to head to the computer store. Jack thought Jacob would blow a gasket because she wanted to get something for work. Only he didn't and said he was heading to the ice skating rink and would be there for an hour.
"I played hockey a few times too," Jacob smiled as he and Jack put their hockey skates on. "Come on Jack, let's see how fast you can go!"
"Jacob, does everything have to be a competition?" Jack asked as they stood up.
"No," Jacob smiled then pushed Jack down before running onto the ice.
Jack laughed and quickly went after him. Their playfulness lasted all of fifteen minutes before some adult ordered them to slow down on the ice.
"Damn, Jacob, no one lets kids have fun anymore!"
"I know what you mean! Where's Danny boy?"
"He doesn't know how to ice skate."
"So, we could teach him. Where is he?"
Jack scanned the seating section and spotted Daniel. He was trying not to look so bored. Jacob must have already spotted him because he was already heading straight for Daniel.
"Come on Danny, get some skates on. Jack and I will teach you how to skate," Jacob said. "Get the hockey skates, you don't want those girly figure skates!"
"Jacob…I don't know…"
"Danny, we're here to have fun…you're not having fun! I promise you won't get hurt," Jacob insisted.
"Come on Daniel," Jack insisted. "I'll make sure Jacob doesn't accidentally hurt you."
"We'll meet you here in five minutes!" Jacob ordered not giving Daniel a chance to agree or disagree.
After a few laps Jack stopped with Jacob as promised. Daniel was nervously standing there, clinging onto the rail.
"Hey, you boys!" someone shouted when they reached Daniel.
"Who's that?" Jacob whispered to Jack.
"I don't know, another Commandant?" Jack chuckled.
"Yeah you two!" a tall skinny blond man shouted moving towards them. "You two need to slow down on the ice before you hurt someone. Where are your parents?"
"Our mom's are shopping. We tend to get in the way so they dumped us here," Jacob answered smiling sweetly.
"Ok, just slow down."
"Will do!" Jacob answered saluting the man. "Come on Danny, Jack and I will hold you up."
"Trick is, don't be afraid to fall," Jack said as he and Jacob helped Daniel onto the ice. "Sure it hurts, but hey, you're in the body of a ten year old so it won't hurt as much!"
"That's not very encouraging Jack," Daniel protested.
Suddenly Daniel's feet went in two different directions. He gripped onto both Jack and Jacob for dear life! As promised, they helped him back on his feet, keeping him from harm.
It took a little while, and lots of encouraging words from Jacob and Jack. But Daniel eventually got brave enough to go on his own. Jack and Jacob would take turns following Daniel to make sure he didn't fall too hard.
Without realizing it, two hours went by. Sam finally turned up and the boys headed off the ice. Jack was talking to Daniel when he noticed Jacob staring angrily away from them. Following his gaze he saw what Jacob was looking at and why he was pissed.
A father was talking harshly to his son. The boy was actually ten years old. A boy who was in tears because his father slapped him hard on the behind.
"Jacob, no," Jack said quickly grabbing Jacob by the arm when he jumped to his feet.
"Why not?" Jacob growled.
"I understand why you want to. I do too. But what can we do? That guys huge and nothing we say is going to stop him. It could just make things worse for the kid!"
Jacob yanked his arm free and glared at Jack. Then he quickly grabbed his skates and returned them to the clerk. Jack and the others quickly followed Jacob as he stomped out of the area.
"Colonel, what's wrong?" Carter asked Jack quietly.
"It's nothing Carter," Jack insisted. "Something your father and I don't like to see happen…that's all."
"I'm hungry," Jacob growled. "I'm going to get something to eat. You guys can do what you want!"
"Jacob, we should stick together," Jack said. "In case, we need to make an escape, at least we're together."
"Fine!"
Jack sighed. He wanted to go after that Dad too. Jack never raised a hand towards his kid. If, God willing, he were to have more kids, he would never hit them either. And Jack was sure Jacob never raised a hand towards his children. He may wrestle Jack to the ground for spite, but Jacob had feared becoming his father too much that it was safe to assume that he never struck Mark or Sam.
During lunch, Jack watched as Jacob's mood improved. He was smiling and joking again. Jack liked this side of Jacob much better. He was a blast to hang around with. It was hard not to go along with Jacob's pranks. They were fun even if Hammond didn't enjoy having his coffee cup glued to the desk. At least it wasn't his hand, like with Walt.
Then Jacob's mood abruptly changed. He was fuming again. Jack turned to see the same father and son. Again, the boy was crying. Only this time Jack was unable to stop Jacob.
"Shit, Carter grab his jacket," Jack ordered, then he got up to follow Jacob.
"Excuse me, Sir. But you shouldn't hit your son!" Jacob snapped stepping right up to the guy.
Of course, the guy was sitting down at the moment, but he didn't appreciate being berated by a kid.
"Listen, you little pipsqueak, it's none of your business. Now why don't you run back to your mommy!"
"If my mother was here, she would be saying the same thing! Don't hit the boy!" Jacob countered pointing his finger at the guy.
"Jacob…" Jack spoke softly, trying to pull Jacob back.
"Back off Jack!" Jacob snarled at him, then turned back to confront the adult. "You shouldn't hit the boy!"
The man stood up. He was six foot, easy. But he was thick! Big neck, broad shoulders. Ice for eyes. Jacob looked so tiny compared to the guy. It was kind of eerie too; the man closely resembled the description Jacob gave of his own father. Jack could see why Jacob had a hard time adjusting to being a kid again. If Jack had a Dad that size, he would have been scared shitless too. And it was a no brainer why Jacob was so keen on protecting the boy from this guy.
"You little runt! Just who the fuck do you think you are?"
"Hey we're just kids, we don't need to hear that kind of language!" Jack snapped.
"Why don't you let the little runt speak for himself? He started this…"
"And I'll finish it!" Jacob growled then punched the man in the one place that would drop him, or any man, fast.
While the guy was howling in pain, hunched over and grabbing himself, Jacob landed an uppercut square on the guy's nose. Blood spurt from his nose.
"Get out of here!" Jacob ordered Jack and the others while the guy had a hold of Jacob.
The commotion caught the attention of mall security and Jack was torn between following Jacob's order and trying to help his friend.
"Jack go…get back to the base before George finds out we're all gone…if he hasn't found out already!" Jacob shouted.
Jack found the keys in Jacob's jacket.
"Go! I'll be alright!" Jacob smiled.
"You little shit!" the man growled, shaking Jacob.
"What's going on here?" a security guard asked as Jack dropped Jacob's jacket.
"This little shit assaulted me!" the guy roared.
The security guards nearly laughed at such an absurd suggestion. This guy was huge compared to Jacob, it was pretty laughable. Even some of the shoppers were chuckling while Jack and the others retreated.
Jack moved the team back to a safe position where they could watch. Jacob was placed in handcuffs at the insistence of the asshole Dad.
"Let's go," Jack said taking point.
"What about my father?"
"He'll be alright," Jack replied. "I think we should head to Hammond's house. He'll be furious but he'll be able to get Jacob out of here. Just let me do all the talking."
General Vidrine was the last person on Earth Hammond expected to see on a Saturday afternoon. Quickly getting over his surprise, Hammond allowed the General into his home.
"General Hammond, how are you doing?"
"I'm fine, considering the hell I've been going through at the base," he said.
"I've read your reports about General Carter and Colonel O'Neill. You have to admit, they're taking advantage of their situation, something many of us would do if in their positions."
"Yes, I understand that. Is that why you're here?"
"No…may I sit down?"
"Oh, sorry, Sir. Please," George said escorting Vidrine into the living room.
"I came straight from the airfield, I didn't trust telling you over the phone."
"Of course, Sir. I understand."
"Where is General Carter?"
"On the base."
"Have him under guard! Make the call, please!"
"But…"
"George, Colonel Simmons is missing!"
"Shit! Do you think he's going after Jacob?"
"I have no doubt. If it wasn't for the NID, Simmons would never have been allowed back into the Air Force."
Hammond quickly dialed the phone and asked for the CO in charge. After ordering guards to be posted at Jacob's room he hung up the phone and rejoined Vidrine.
"Do you really think Simmons would risk going after Jacob? It's been what, twenty years?"
"Simmons hates and despises Carter. He went on a terror when Carter was given a symbiote!"
"But to go…"
"George, he hates Jacob," Vidrine snapped then sighed, "Listen, I never told Jacob this because I was never able to find the evidence to prove it…but Jacob's wife was murdered."
"What?" George asked in total disbelief.
"Wasn't it coincidental that Allison Carter died, within one week after Simmoms was kicked out of the Air Force by, at the time, Colonel Carter? I did. I read Jacob's report about the incident involving him and Simmons. So, I looked into the accident. The cab's brakes had been tampered. I never told Jacob because it would have done more harm than good. Jacob would have obsessed over finding the killer. He had two children to raise on his own; I couldn't allow him to throw his life away. And I've been keeping an eye on him through the years. Again, I came across Simmons and Carter in the late nineties. Carter's cancer was not natural. The doctors weren't smart enough to figure it out. I had a few of our specialists look into it…."
"So, Simmons wants Jacob dead. Why not go after his family? If he did it before…"
"He tried but the NID wouldn't allow it. They needed Samantha Carter to continue her work on the Stargate program. If something happened to her or her brother, the project would have suffered! The Stargate program wouldn't be where it is today if it wasn't for her!"
The phone rang and the doorbell rang at the same time.
"Go ahead," Vidrine said waving at George.
George quickly grabbed the phone and headed for the front door.
"Say that again? They're not on the base! All four of them!" he snapped just before he opened the front door.
Again Hammond was surprised. Then he was furious. He barked an order into the phone then ordered Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter, and Dr. Jackson to sit their asses down on his couch.
"George," Vidrine said in a hushed voice stopping Hammond at the front door. "Not a word about Allison. There's no point and it wouldn't be fair to the Carter family."
"Understood. But, they do need to know Simmons is after Jacob," George insisted.
"Of course. But we also need to find him ASAP before Simmons does."
This was one of the lowest points of Jacob's life and only the second time he had ever been arrested. At least he thought he was arrested. Sitting in the back of a police car with the handcuffs still on didn't really suggest otherwise.
He was embarrassed. Just like the first time he was arrested. Only that time the police officer took pity on him because he recognized Jacob. The officer was there assisting Jacob in pulling a woman from the wreckage of a taxicab, only to discover it was Allison and that she was dead. That night, Jacob couldn't cope. His son hated him and his daughter wouldn't talk to him. He headed to a bar, with the intention of getting drunk. Only he didn't get drunk but started a fight, then got arrested. Thankfully the officer also knew Colonel Hammond and called him.
Jacob wouldn't know what he would have done if it weren't for George. George wasn't angry. He simply took Jacob to the Hammond home. There, George helped Jacob, by just holding him, as he wept for his wife. Something he would never do in front of his children.
Only now, Jacob knew he couldn't make that call to George. He was afraid he lost his friendship with George because of the hell he's put George through the past couple of weeks. And leaving the base wasn't going to help the situation.
Nor could Jacob tell the police exactly who he was. They already assumed he stole his father's wallet. He overhead the security guard say that to one of the officers after describing what happened in the food court. The officers laughed, 'A scrawny kid beat the crap out of a guy the size of a linebacker!'
"Anything on the boy yet?" the driver asked of his partner.
"No, nothing from HQ. There wouldn't be if he's had not priors though."
"True, what about the name on the driver's license we found in his jacket?"
"Not much. His name is General Jacob Michael Carter. He's stationed at Cheyenne Mountain. Could be the boys father."
"We'll find out when we get to the station."
"You mean I'll find out."
"You know I'm not good with kids! Never have been. That's why I'm still single! You, well you have three kids…all boys!"
"Nancy still wants a girl though."
"Don't tell me you two are trying for another kid!"
"No, I said Nancy still wants a girl…that doesn't meaning we're trying to have another kid. Besides, little Zach is only six months old. We'll wait before we try again."
Jacob watched as the driver shook his head and laughed, "How do you do it? All those kids!"
"Hey, I love kids. Mine and the others I help down at the shelters."
"You're a saint, you know that right?"
"Oh, yeah, I'm a saint! Yeah, just call me Michael the Archangel!"
"So, will you take care of the boy?" the driver asked as he pulled the car to a stop.
"Sure thing."
Jacob watched the two men exit the vehicle. Michael the Archangel stayed and opened the backdoor.
"Come on kid, let's go," he smiled kindly.
He led Jacob into the station through a maze of desks until they finally came to one with all kinds of pictures of children, presumably the officer's children. He removed the handcuffs and had Jacob take a seat.
"Ok, Jake. In case you didn't know, I'm Mike. I'm going to ask you a few questions and I expect you to answer them. For starters, is Jake you're real name? And are you related to this General Carter?"
"Yes and yes," Jacob simply answered staring his hands that were resting on his lap.
"Listen Jake, I'm on your side. Many of the adults in the food court corroborate your story that the gentleman stuck his kid. And that you were defending the boy."
"Am I being arrested?"
"No. The man decided not to file charges against you."
"So he gets away with abusing his own son?" Jacob asked looking directly at the officer.
"Unfortunately for the time being, yes. The boy refused to say anything. And we can't force him to."
"Then…I only made things worse," Jacob sighed.
Mike rested his hand on Jacob's shoulder.
"No you didn't boy. I've put a call in to a very good friend of mine. Well, actually she's my wife. She works in Social Services. They're sending someone to check on the boy at his home and his school. What you did was very brave. A little foolish, but very brave. Now, Jake…is General Carter your father?"
"No, not really. He's…he's an uncle," Jacob lied.
"If I call him will he be able to pick you up?"
"No, he's out of town," another lie.
"Without his wallet?"
"He works for the military. He doesn't always need to carry his wallet," Jacob truthfully replied.
"I suppose you're right. So what about your parents."
"They're dead."
"A legal guardian?"
Jacob thought about it for a moment. He knew he couldn't ask George. There was only one other person he could think off.
"Her name's Janet Fraiser. She's a Doctor in the Air Force."
When the phone rang and it was the police Janet didn't know what to think. Then when the officer mentioned Jacob's name it was all too clear. Luckily Cassie was at a friend's house for the weekend, so Janet was able to head to the station immediately.
As soon as she had Jacob alone, she was going to give him a lecture far worse than one he would ever receive from General Hammond. At least that was the plan. Plans change. When she learned what Jacob had done but more importantly, why he did it, she was no longer angry with him.
"Thank you officer. I'm sure Jacob will be more careful in the future," she smiled putting her arm around Jacob's shoulders. "Right Jacob?"
"Yes, ma'am," he said sadly.
"He's a fine boy. Take care Jacob."
"Yes, Sir. And thank you," Jacob said.
"Jacob, General Hammond is going to be furious when he founds out you're not on the base," she said escorting him to her Explorer.
"I know. If you can just drop me off at his house, I'll tell him myself."
"My…my…how the mighty have fallen!"
The voice came from behind Janet. A very familiar voice too. Jacob must have recognized it because she felt his shoulders stiffen. Both she and Jacob turned around.
"Frank Simmons, you piece of shit!" Jacob snapped angrily, stepping between Janet and Simmons. "Tell me, how does it feeling being the slime of the universe?"
"You should be careful how you speak to me, Jacob. I'm bigger than you," Simmons snickered then grabbed Jacob's arm.
"Colonel…" was all she got out of her mouth before being backhanded.
Janet was dazed and lying on the ground as she watched Jacob try to rush to her aid only to be held back by Simmons.
"Janet!" Jacob exclaimed.
"Don't worry Jacob, we'll take care of the good Doctor," Simmons smiled coldly.
"No! Leave her, you have me!" Jacob insisted.
"Sorry, too late," Simmons said then turned. "Get them in the van! Make sure you bind the both. Bind the boy's feet too. I wouldn't want the little shit to run away!"
"Yes, Sir!" two men wearing black fatigues said.
"Let her go Frank! It's me you want!" Jacob continued as he struggled to break free from one of the men in black.
"Silence him," Simmons ordered.
Jack and the others were getting worried. Jacob wasn't at the mall and Hammond was taking too long in the police station. Then things got worse when Carter recognized Janet's SUV.
"Shit," Jack whispered, checking around the Explorer. "Simmons must have taken them both."
"Maybe this isn't Janet's SUV," Daniel suggested.
"It's Janet's," Carter sighed. I put that dent in the passenger door with a shopping cart."
Jack inspected the dent.
"What, were you two racing with the shopping carts? That's one hell of a dent!" Jack exclaimed.
Carter didn't answer. And Jack didn't have a chance to question her further.
"I told you three to stay in the car!" Hammond snapped.
"Sorry, but we think Simmons already as Fraiser and Jacob," Jack informed both General Hammond and Vidrine. "This is Janet's SUV. Jacob must have called her to bail him out."
"The officer in charge of Jacob's case told us Dr. Fraiser picked Jacob up an hour ago," Hammond said sadly.
"Then we don't know where they are," Vidrine sighed.
"But we can find out," Jack said.
"How?" Vidrine asked.
"I can't say exactly," Jack said, not making eye contact with Vidrine. "But I know someone who could possibly help track Simmons down. He help me before when Carter was kidnapped by Simmons' people."
"Colonel Maybourne?" Vidrine asked.
Jack reluctantly nodded. True Maybourne was a pain but he did come through for Jack in locating Carter. And he didn't want to rat Maybourne out even though the man was a wanted criminal.
"Ok, Colonel, I understand," Vidrine said. "Do what you have to, contact Maybourne? I don't want to see anything happen to General Carter either."
"Thank you, Sir. My only wish is that we would be the ones to go in once we find Jacob and Janet," Jack sighed.
Hammond's cell phone suddenly rang.
"Daniel, when we get back to the base, send the message to Maybourne," Jack ordered.
"Just like we did before?" Daniel asked.
"It's the only way," Jack shrugged.
"We have to get back to the base!" Hammond exclaimed putting his cell phone back into his pocket. "Dr. Lee as some good news."
"Yes! There is a God!" Jack hailed. "Or, at least I hope the good news is what we're all thinking!"
Jacob was getting worried. Janet hadn't moved for more than an hour. She passed out a little while after the blow Simmons delivered. All Jacob could do was try to keep her comfortable. He used his jacket as a pillow for her head once they reached some unknown destination.
The room they were being held in looked like a storage room of some kind. The walls were concrete and there was only one door. There were no windows of any kind. Nothing to indicated where they were. However, the room was very cold.
But Jacob didn't care about his discomfort at the moment. He only worried about Janet's comfort.
They were still in town. That's all Jacob knew because they didn't travel for very long. He was blind folded the entire trip. Bound and gagged in the back of a black van. During the drive was when Janet stopped talking.
Her pulse seemed steady. Her breathing normal. Shit, he wasn't a doctor. He didn't have a clue what was normal or not.
Then there were the guards. They all thought he was a kid. Simmons didn't inform them about who he was. Jacob wondered if he could use that to his advantage. Only problem, Jacob wasn't very good at acting. That was Selmak's strong suit. She had been doing it for centuries for the Tok'ra when infiltrating the Goa'uld.
Still, Jacob had to try.
Going to the door, he could hear two guards talking outside it. Jacob tried to think of the saddest things in his life. His mother dying in his arms. Pulling his wife's body out of that cab. Looking back, he saw how Janet lay motionless. He didn't like seeing her like that.
"Help!" Jacob cried out letting the tears fall. "Please, it's my mother…please!"
There was the sound of keys then the door opened.
"What's wrong kid?" the black hair man said.
"My mother…she won't wake up! Please, she needs a doctor!"
"What the hell is Simmons doing kidnapping a mother and her boy?" the blonde haired man asked. "I didn't sign up for this shit!"
"I ordered you both to NOT go in this room!" Simmons shouted, after suddenly appearing in the doorway. "That woman is not his mother! And he is vital to our research of Goa'uld symbiotes!"
Jacob swallowed hard as the two men quickly ran out of the room past Simmons.
"That's right Jacob. I'm going to remove that symbiote of yours! After we run a few tests on you!"
'Thank God for George…he was smart enough to know to not mention that Selmak was defenseless in his reports,' Jacob sighed to himself.
Only that didn't bode well for Jacob at the moment.
"What kind of tests?" Jacob asked, holding his breath.
Simmons moved from the doorway and stepped towards Jacob but he stood his ground. Despite his size, he wasn't afraid of Simmons.
"We still need to learn more about how the symbiote heals the human body," Simmons smiled evilly. "Of course, the extent of your injuries will depend on how you respond to my questions I have about the Tok'ra. I doubt sodium penathol will work…but I may give it a try, just for the hell of it."
Simmons headed back to the door then turned back to Jacob.
"I suggest you get plenty of rest…while you can!"
Jacob finally started breathing again. Holding his breath was the only way to keep his composure. He quickly returned his attention to Janet.
"Janet…come on wake up!" he said, gently touching her bruised cheek. "I need your help!"
Janet lay as before. Unconscious. Motionless.
Something was happening. People were urgently talking! Too many were talking at once, Selmak couldn't make out what they were saying. Then she noticed someone was approaching her tank. She immediately recognized the individual was General Hammond.
She liked Hammond. He was a nice man. He always worried about those under his command. Even her, though she technically wasn't under his command. Like she was ever under anyone's command; the oldest and wisest Tok'ra didn't need to follow anyone's orders! Every so often he had dropped by to check on her and would ask Dr. Fraiser questions about her status.
His hand slowly entered the tank. Selmak wasn't sure if that was a good sign or a bad sign. Maybe Jacob finally made Hammond snap with his antics and Hammond was going to take out his frustration on her!
Only she realized Hammond would never do such a thing. He was too nice. Much nicer than Jacob, her grouchy host! Well, he was grouchy most of the time. Jacob did have his moments of being nice, usually when he wanted something…like coffee.
Unafraid, Selmak swam to Hammond's hand. Suddenly he grabbed her and she was quickly stuffed into a container with some of the liquid from her tank.
'That was rude!' she hissed even as the lid was being twisted on. 'Hope this means I'm getting better accommodations! That tank was too small!'
More talking, only Selmak could barely hear what they were saying now.
Then they were moving. She was jostled about within the container. It was kind of cramped inside. Not much room to stretch out. The darkness didn't bother her, she was used to it being stuffed inside human bodies for centuries.
There was a loud muffled kawooshing sound. It was the Stargate being activated. Selmak realized she was in the Gate Room! Hopefully that meant she was going to be changed back into a full-grown symbiote again.
Just one problem, she couldn't sense Jacob. Not one little tingle to indicate he was near. He would be the one holding the container, wouldn't he?
'Jacob, where are you?' she fretted as she attempted to maneuver into a more comfortable position inside the cramped container.
Selmak suddenly became very still.
'If I'm cramped now, what's going to happen when I'm bigger?'
Selmak started pushing frantically against the lid!
"Sir, what's wrong?" Carter asked as Daniel finally caught up with them in the tunnel.
"It's Selmak, she's keeps jumping around in there! She won't hurt herself will she?" Jack asked Carter.
"She'll be fine, Sir," Carter smiled.
"I hope so," Jack frowned, looking at the container.
"I sent the same message as before," Daniel informed Jack as they walked into the Gate Room.
"Hutch we need to talk?" Jack asked.
"Yeah, from Starsky. Do you think it will work again?" Daniel asked.
"We'll find out as soon as we return," Jack sighed.
"Sir, should you actually be the one carrying Selmak? She's probably still pissed about your previous encounter," Carter suggested as the chevrons were lighting up.
"Carter, I owe it to Jacob," was all Jack said then stepped forward to take point.
Daniel noticed that Jack was extremely serious. He was in full Colonel Mode! While none of them knew why Simmons wanted Jacob, they knew it was important that they find him and Dr. Fraiser. Especially when they were all aware of how Simmons worked.
"Chevron 7 locked!" Walter announced over the speaker.
The vortex extended as the wormhole engaged. No matter how many times he saw it, Daniel was still in awe at the sight. As long as he time to enjoy it and wasn't running for his life!
Teal'c carried the backpacks containing the adult size uniforms of his team. He did not want to burden them any further as they hurried to the ruins. They were extremely worried. And all were anxious to get changed back into adults. Teal'c was anxious himself to assist in searching for General Carter.
"Let's hurry!" O'Neill ordered as he started running.
No one questioned their leader. They all followed as quickly as they could. Teal'c trotted at a leisurely pass behind them, to ensure they all made it safely to the ruins.
Jack didn't have time to listen to Dr. Lee's explanation about how he managed to reverse the process. Jack snapped at the doctor to shut up. Only to apologize and blame it on the oversize clothes he was wearing. His underwear was bothering him!
Then as instructed, they entered the room. First Jack entered with Selmak still in her container, which was held firmly in his small hands. Then Carter and Daniel. The three of them came to a stop in the center of the ring.
When Jack felt the tingling sensation he immediately closed his eyes praying that Dr. Lee got the device to work correctly. He didn't want to contemplate the idea of being changed any younger. The idea of diapers terrified him as an adult as it was. Besides, that scenario wouldn't help Jacob.
There was the same hum, then darkness.
"Colonel O'Neill!" sounded a familiar voice in the darkness.
"Shouldn't we take them back to the SGC?" Dr. Lee asked.
"O'Neill wanted to be awakened immediately, as did the others!" Teal'c said.
"Teal'c!" Jack exclaimed opening his eyes. "Did it work?"
"Yes, you are again your adult self," Teal'c replied, assisting Jack to sit up.
Jack turned to see they were outside the ruins in a tent on cots. Daniel and Carter were both beginning to wake up.
"Whoa!" Jack shouted getting to his feet. "Forgot how tall I was!"
"Feels kind of weird," Carter smiled as she stood up.
"Weird? Is that a scientific term Carter?" Jack teased.
Watching Daniel slowly get to his feet, Jack realized someone was missing.
"Selmak, where is the little snake?" Jack asked as he searched around the room.
"Here," Teal'c smiled, offering the container to Jack.
"We should check to make sure she's alright, Sir," Carter insisted.
"I'm sure she could use some air too!" Jack smiled as he unscrewed the top.
The top was barely off when Selmak's head popped out of the container. Jack was so startled by her ferocious hissing and by the sight of her ugly head that he jumped back, releasing his hold on the container. Actually, he flung the container away from himself. It graciously landed on a nearby cot.
"She sounds pissed!" he exclaimed as she came out of the container…and still more of her was coming out. "Fuck, no wonder! The container was too small for her! Shit, how was I do know how big she actually was?"
"We can't leave her like that!" Daniel complained, as usual.
"I'll grab her," Jack said, going to the cranky snake.
Only Selmak reared up at him. Flippers full extended as she raised herself up on her tail.
"Whoa! Selmak…I'm sorry!" he said, trying to reach for her slowly.
Except she lashed out at his hand. Jack was quick to pull it back, immediately having a flash back to her clamped onto his nose. Jack shook the memory off.
"Just talk to her!" Carter ordered. "She understands!"
Jack gave Carter a curious look. Now, it made some wacky sense that Jacob would talk to Selmak. Thinking back, Jack realized now it wasn't so strange.
""Teal'c, do you…"
Teal'c's hand suddenly appeared near Jack's face and he saw the mini-bottle of Tequila.
"Thanks!" Jack said, grabbing it and opening the bottle.
"Jack, now isn't the time to be having a drink!" Daniel shouted.
"It's not mine!" Jack said as he held the bottle towards Selmak. "Come on girl! Look what I got for you! I knew you might be cranky, some people need coffee…you need Tequila!"
Jack held his arm out as far as he could stretch it, holding the bottle with just his fingers.
"Come on, it's a peace offering…take it!"
Selmak grabbed the bottle. Then Jack grabbed her. Only she obviously didn't want to be touched and flung the bottle away with a quick whip of her head.
Jack just about shit his pants when she hissed at him.
"No…no…not again!" he screamed.
It had been several hours now. Janet was worried about Jacob. He was gone when she woke up. Her headache didn't help matters. And her left cheek hurt, no doubt she had a nasty bruise there. In fact the more she worried the worse the headache got, the more her cheek stung.
Finally the door opened. One of the guards carried Jacob in his arms and gently set him down on the floor.
Janet waited until she was alone before going to him.
"Jacob," she called, checking his pulse.
She immediately noticed two of the fingers on his left hand were broken and the hand itself was swollen badly, no doubt it was broken as well. He was sweating. He was unconscious. His bottom lip had blood on it. Janet assumed he had been hit so hard that he was knocked out. A closer look and she saw teeth marks on his lip; he must have bitten it.
"Janet," he whispered as his eyes slowly opened.
"Don't move," she ordered, gently holding him down.
"Janet, we have to get out of here. Simmons doesn't realize I don't have Selmak! I'm not going to be able to go through another torture session like that. Or worse, when he discovers that I no longer have a symbiote…I'm fucked!"
"Why does he hate you?"
"Long story," Jacob smiled. "I'll tell you on one of our dates!"
"I only agreed to one date, General," she teased.
"True, but I'm hoping for more after that one!"
Janet blushed as she giggled.
"Help me up. We need to figure a way out of here," he ordered in a more serious tone.
Janet helped him to his feet and held him steady as he wobbled a little. She also noticed he was gently cradling his injured hand.
"You wouldn't have any duct tape on you?" he asked as he walked to the door.
"Duct tape?"
"Yeah, I thought maybe you could tape my fingers together or something," he said seriously.
Janet gave him a curious look.
He smiled, then laughed, "I think I saw a couple of Popsicle sticks on the floor in the hallway! You could use them as splints!"
"Glad to see Simmons hasn't dampened that sense of humor of yours!" she smiled, shaking her head.