Chapter Sixteen

Flashback

Methos and Jalitha walked up the sand dune just as the sun was setting in the west with a small group of local men following them. They'd planned to keep to take control of a small enemy camp site about five miles from their base of operations and were hopeful all would go well. The small group of about twenty men was nearing the point where their intended targets were and were slightly feeling the effects of the hot sun and minimal amounts of water.

When Methos and Jalitha went to observe the camp they found the small group of Jaffa sat around the campfire exchanging what seemed to be jokes of some kind although Methos couldn't find anything slightly amusing about them even though his understanding of their tongue was only minimal.

There was in fact only a small amount of people within their resistance that understood the strange tongue of the false gods and those that did, understood less than Methos did. It was thanks to Jalitha and Selmac that he understood as much as he did. He didn't understand how she knew so much about their language but he didn't care if it helped their cause.

Jalitha looked over at Methos wanting to know if it was time for them to start their attack. Although she had the knowledge of the false gods it was Methos who was the worrier, it'd always come natural to him for some unknown reason.

When he nodded she turned back to the rest of the small force and signalled to them that they should prepare themselves for battle. Those seconds before attacking your enemy seemed to drag into eternity Methos felt, but at the time the time for attack seemed to arrive all too soon. The men climbed the last dune yelling their battle cries at the top of their voices.

Methos felt the burn in his left shoulder but managed to keep himself upright as the searing pain travelled through his body. Finally coming into range of the Jaffa with his primitive weapon Methos attacked and continued attacking until the Jaffa fell to the ground dead.

He moved but just as he was about to attack another of the Jaffa he found himself captured by two pairs of strong arms. For the first time he realised the battle around him had stopped and the Jaffa now held the staff weapons aimed in the direction of what was left of there small group of men. He spotted Jalitha at the back of the group, as the men seemed to gravitate around her in an attempt to protect her from harm. It broke his heart to see the look of despair on her face at her beloved being held captive by the enemy.

"Kill them all" the head Jaffa shouted then turned to where Methos was being held. "Bring this one… I think he will please our god greatly…" that was the last thing he heard as another of the Jaffa hit him over the head as he started to struggle and his world turned black. The look on Jalitha's face would stay with him for the rest of his life.

It was nearly two-moon cycles that the God Ra held him prisoner where he was punished for his crimes against the false god. But alas Ra tired of the daily torture of Methos and he finally ended it for Methos.

When Methos awoke it was to find himself in a small tent in the middle of the desert. Alone and scared as to why he was alive when he clearly should be dead Methos didn't know what to do. He didn't know which direction to travel in as he wasn't sure where he was exactly so he stayed and sank deeper and deeper within himself.

The sky was turning black when Methos first felt the pain in his head that seemed to come out of nowhere. Putting his hands over his eyes as he scrunched them up in pain he never noticed as the tent flap moved and a gentle looking man entered.

The man came over to Methos and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry the pain will lessen in a few moments" and he was right only moments later the pain had receded to a mere buzz in the background of his thoughts.

Methos looked up for the first time at the man before him and recognised him instantly. He pulled back to the far corner of the tent as fear wrapped his entire body and it began to shake.

"You have nothing to fear from me friend… I'm here to help you through your transition…"

"NO… You were there… you were there by that false god's side the whole time… why have you brought me here?"

"Yes I was by Ra's side… but I was only there to enable my fight from the inside… It was I that stole your body before it could be disposed of…"

"I was dead?…" That was more of a statement than a question and it was clear to tell from the fear that was clouding his eyes.

"Indeed you were… but you live now because you are immortal…"

"Immortal… but how is that possible?"

"That is one of many question that you will want answering but unfortunately I am unable to answer that one at this time… If you would have me I will be your teacher…"

"Why do I need a teacher?… especially one who allies himself with false gods…"

"As I said before I am part of the resistance… and you will need a teacher for many things my young friend… in the morning I will start your teachings but for now sleep… You have had an eventful day and an evening full of information that will need to be processed."

Moon cycle after moon cycle passed as Solimon taught Methos the way of the sword but for some unknown reason Solimon refused to let Methos out of his sight no matter how much Methos wanted it. Methos was desperate to find out the fate of his beloved Jalitha but with the ever so watchful eye of his teacher he had been unable to return home to make sure she was well.

"That is all the lessons for today Methos… go get some sleep as we'll be rising early in the morning… It is time to move on from this place… if Ra was to find that you live he would deeply angered…"

"But what of my wife?"

"Like I have told you before… your wife thinks you dead… she has fled through the ring of the gods with others who intend to fight the false gods on the other side, wherever it leads…"

"She would never… you lie"

"My young friend I saw her go myself… unfortunately none that went through the ring have returned so we fear that they were unsuccessful in their fight… I am sorry my friend but we believe that your wife is no longer among the living."

"NO… no that can't be."

End Flashback

Sam got the SF to unlock the cell door and she rushed over to Adam's side with a worried look on her face.

"Adam… It's ok…"

"Oh god… we buried the gate… we trapped them on the other side… We trapped Jalitha there…"

"It's ok Adam you didn't know… how could you have known that, whoever told you that was lying to you…"

Jacob came over and joined them and knelt by Adam and his daughter but Selmac was still in control. "Methos the person that informed you of Jalitha's death did not lie to you I'm afraid… we got through the Stargate and we were attacked on the other side… very few made it through that encounter… Jalitha was injured during the attack and even with my healing abilities we knew that she wouldn't live through the night… There was a young man that volunteered to be my host… Before I left Jalitha she made me promise that I would find out what happened to you and if you were still alive she wanted me to let you know that she loved you with all her heart… I felt her love for you Methos and I can honestly say that she loved you more than life itself… the only reason she held on as long as she did after we thought you died was so that I could live on and remember the love she felt for you…"

"Thank you Selmac… I am truly glad that you lived and at least now I know the true fate of Jalitha…"

"As am I my friend… I look forward to having you as a friend once again and as family… but there's one thing… how is it that you live now?" Selmac smiled at the grim faced Methos.

"Errrr… well that is a tricky one… one that I'd rather not explain while we're on a military base…"

"Agreed"

Jack was sat at his desk, Gameboy in hand when there was a knock at his office door. Pausing his game and putting the Gameboy in his top draw out of view he shouted for the person knocking to enter.

The door opened and Sam entered with Adam hot on her heels. Once they were both in the office Sam closed the door and came to stand beside Adam.

"How did the meeting with Dad go?" Jack asked with a mischievous smile on his face knowing full well how it more than likely would have gone.

"You know Dad sir… he was a real…"

"Pain in the ass… gave Adam the third degree… that kind of thing"

"More like good ol' Selmac recognised me" Adam said with an annoyed look on his face.

"You know Selmac?… when did that happen."

"Yeah I knew Selmac from way back when the Stargate on Earth was still up and there were major pain in the asses known as Goa'uld running around terrorising the planet… Oh the good ol' days"

"Oh well… anyway… to the issue at hand… I don't have to tell you not to come back to the mountain uninvited again do I?… Also there's no telling ANYBODY about what's going on here?"

"No Jack your secrets safe with me…but keep in mind that if you ever need a helping hand in fighting our not so friendly neighbours you just have to call and I'll be there ready to kick some butt… I got a few things I'd like to pay them back for…"

"Sure thing… but keep in mind that if we do ever call on you we'll more than likely have to inform Hammond about the whole immortality thing… he has to be aware of all the possible risks or advantages before sending anyone out there… do you understand?"

"Well if that's the price I have to pay then so be it… but understand this… if there is any doubt in your mind that you can't trust him with keeping my immortality secret… and I mean not even is the President to know… then don't tell him… There's too many lives at stake here. I'm not just talking about Janet and me, I'm talking about all immortals… just think if it got out that there are immortals out there people would either start hunting us for sport, killing us off until there's none left or the government would turn us in to lab rats…"

"I can understand your concern… and believe me when I say I trust Hammond with my life…"

"Yeah your life but what about my life and all the other immortals out there?…"


A/N: - Again thanks for the reviews people keep them coming even though it is almost over (this one anyway, theres still Secrets 3 too come :D)

General Mac: - Thanks for the review again and you'll only be getting one more chapter after this one i'm afriad then you'll have to wait till i finish Secrets 3.

Sophiedb: - I agree eww would definately fit that chapter but it was just an idea that came to me one night while i was writing and i found it that funny i just had to add it in there... am i evil or am i evil.

Lauren: - Glad your still liking keep reading and letting me know what you think although the next chapter is the last one for Secrets 2 i'm afriad, but hopefully Secrets 3 will be ready to upload in a few months :D.