Chapter Seventeen:
Stargate Command, Cheyenne Mountain
Daniel watched as Sam had some stitches removed. It had been a while since they returned, almost two weeks now, while the Atlantians spent nearly all their time trying to get the machine working, Sam spent nearly all her time in rehab, and Jack spent most of his time watching Sam in rehab.
So Daniel and Teal'c went on missions with SG-2, doing what they were paid to do, bringing back things that could be helpful.
Sighing, Daniel turned back, away from the window, and into Jack's office, sitting in the chair.
The phone rang, and Daniel answered, watching back from the corners of his eyes.
"Hello, Daniel Jackson speaking."
"Daniel Jackson. Why hello."
"Er. Do I know you?" He asked, frowning into the phone. The voice laughed.
"No, you don't know me, but I know you! You work for the SGC, I know you currently have people from the lost city of Atlantis residing over there, brought by a machine which someone…stole from you a while ago."
Daniel took a deep breath.
"Who are you?"
"Who am I? My name Franklin. Franklin Rodgers. I'm a lawyer, I work for a company called 'Trust enterprises'."
"You work for the trust?"
"You could say that. I'm representing them in a case, an agent of ours, I believe you are familiar with him, Agent Barret, well yes, he stole the machine from us. Which we took from you. I'm happy to say he has been…dealt with. Now, I'm calling there, because we have launched a case. We're filing for custody of the machine, and the…people…that came through with it. See you in court!"
There was a beep and dial tone as the phone was put down. Daniel cursed, running from the room.
"So," Jack said to the people gathered around him at the briefing table, "The Trust are fighting now through the law to get to the machine and you. But that's not to say they won't stop trying the illegal attacks."
Elizabeth looked at Jack.
"Well," She said, her voice laced with anger, "I'm going to go, and I'm going to defend us and the machine in court!" She coughed, "If it's okay with you."
Jack nodded.
"I was hoping you would say that. Sam's going to get working on the machine full time now, her rehab will be reduced now. Daniel is going to help you Elizabeth, John, Teyla, Teal'c and Ford, your all going to start going off world, if we have to ship you off somewhere to stop the trust getting you, so be it. Rodney is going to work on the machine with Sam, and I'll keep the Trust at bay…with my…general…thingy…" He coughed as the others smiled.
Sitting there for a few seconds, something clicked in his mind.
"Oh! Dismissed!"
Every quickly disappeared.
Elizabeth paced the lab. Sitting at the bench was Daniel, a notepad in hand, listening as she ranted, books spread out in front of him.
"I can't believe they did this!" She fumed, "They're NOT going to get away with it! We're humans! Not sheep! We can't be traded and taken!"
Daniel sighed, rubbing his eyes.
"They're not going to win Elizabeth. But they have a better chance to if you keep pacing like that. It's driving me up the wall."
Elizabeth quickly sat down.
"Sorry." She said quickly, pulling a book in her direction. She jumped slightly as a guard walked into the room. Daniel patted her arm.
"Cut down on the caffeine doctor." He said, grinning, turning to the guard.
"General O'Neill has asked me to inform you that Doctor Weir has a visitor in the briefing room."
Elizabeth looked, confused at Daniel.
"Who is it?" She asked, standing up. The guard shuffled.
"I am unsure of his name ma'am."
Elizabeth shrugged standing to her feet and following the private out to the briefing room. Walking up the finals stairs, she noticed a man standing with his back to her.
"Hello?" She asked as he turned around.
She felt her breath stop.
"Elizabeth!" Simon cried out, as the officer disappeared back down the stairs. He ran forward and grabbed her in a hug.
Elizabeth quickly pulled back.
"What are you doing here Simon?" She asked coldly. Simon's eyes narrowed.
"I came to see you of course." He said, just as coldly, "Since you just left me and went to another planet."
Elizabeth took a further step back as Simon took one closer.
"Simon," Elizabeth said warningly, "I broke it up between us. I don't love you anymore."
Simon's face contorted into anger.
"ON VIDEO!" He shouted, "DO I DESERVE THAT?"
Elizabeth flinched, wishing John were around.
"No, Simon, you didn't. And I'm sorry, but I can't be with you anymore."
Simon straightened his back, making him taller.
"You're not going back there." He warned, his fingers clenching into fists.
Elizabeth stood her ground.
"Yes Simon. I am."
Simon snarled, rushing forward.
"No," He sneered, his face against hers. He pushed her and she fell to the ground. "Your not."
As he towered over her, Elizabeth flinched, until she heard a voice coming up the stairs.
"Elizabeth!" Came John's voice, "I heard you were up here. Do you want to come to lunch-" John stopped, surveying the scene in front of him.
Seeing Elizabeth on the ground, and the man towering menacingly over her, he walked calmly forward and offered his hand to Elizabeth. She took it and he helped her up, pushing her behind him.
Simon's face went into rage.
"Get away from her." The man said through gritted teeth. "She's coming with me."
John matched Simon's height.
"No, she's not."
There was a flash as Simon's fist smashed into John's face.
Alarms began to ring, the security camera in the corner, blinking.
John swore, his own fist connecting with Simon's mid-riff. The man doubled over, as guards poured from the doors and Jack ran from his office.
"What's going on?" Jack asked, as Simon was dragged away. John wiped the blood from his brow and nodded.
"The man attacked us."
Jack nodded, understanding there was more but leaving it as it was. "Okay, I'll take care of it."
John turned back to Elizabeth. Tears were running from her eyes as she took her arms and led her to their quarters. Once there, he sat her on the bed.
"Are you okay?" He whispered, brushing back her fringe with his fingers. She nodded, sniffling.
She noticed the blood running from his eyebrow.
"Oh god!" She cried out, standing up and running to get a towel, "I'm so sorry!"
John gripped her hands tightly, immobilizing them.
"It's not your fault." He said gently.
Elizabeth nodded, her eyes full of tears, as John let her go and she wiped at the blood on his forehead.
As she sniffled a few more times, John wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her before pulling her into a hug.
"I'm going to want to hear the full story from you one day." He whispered into her hair. She nodded mutely.
He was going to hear the story. The story of Elizabeth on earth with Simon. He was going to hear it the same day he told her about his family. And about his life on Earth.
One day.
Ttfn!
