Epilogue

"SG-1, you have a go…"

River looked over his shoulder at the window above where they were standing, and saw General Hammond standing there, watching. Beside him he could see Major O'Neill, who gave him a slight smile when she saw him looking. Nervous, but trying very hard to hide it, he gave her a cocky thumbs-up and a wide grin. Then he turned back towards the large metal ring that was situated at the top of the metal ramp. The inner circle of the thing was beginning to move, and little lights were starting to glow on it as each glyph clicked into place.

"Scared, Hayden?" Ian asked, with a slight smile.

There were five of them standing at the foot of the ramp, watching the gate. SG-1 and River Hayden, who was going to go through the thing for the first time, and wasn't really all that excited about it – although he was excited about what was waiting on the other side.

River shrugged, affecting a nonchalance that he didn't feel.

"I go through wormholes all the time..."

Ian smiled, and adjusted the pack on his back. Hayden looked a bit pale – although as tanned as he was it didn't show nearly as well on him as it would have on someone else – and maybe a bit nervous, but he wasn't shaking and his voice had been steady. Ian remembered quite well how he'd felt when he'd gone through the first time, and was more than happy to tease, although he'd never have really held it against River if he'd been scared, or nervous, or anything like that. River was smart enough to know what was going to happen to his body when he stepped through the gate, after all, and no one should approach that with a smile the first time.

"Pay attention, guys," Jack said, drawing both of their attention back towards the gate. They were heading to Chulak, where there shouldn't be any enemy fire or ambushes, but it was always better to be ready for a problem than be caught off guard by it.

Ian and River both nodded, and a moment later the gate engaged with a violent swoosh, and River about jumped out of his brand new BDUs. And about dirtied his brand new BVDs, but that wasn't something he'd ever have admitted. He grinned at the looks the others gave him – amused, but not arrogant – and followed Colonel O'Neill up the ramp. Teal'c and Jack (the dog) went through first, followed closely by Daniel, but when River hesitated at the event horizon, Ian and Jack both stopped as well, both of them well understanding the need to look at it. It was, after all, rather pretty, and completely awe-inspiring. And a little frightening.

"It doesn't hurt," Ian said, watching as River put his hand against the watery looking substance. "I do it all the time."

"Yeah… well… You're not the brightest bulb in the box…"

Ian grinned.

"Yes, I am."

He stepped through, with Jaffer walking right behind him.

River stared at the place he'd been, and then looked at Jack, who smiled, too.

"He probably is, you know?"

"Yeah, but I'm not going to let him know I think so."

With that, River stepped through as well, closing his eyes and hoping that he wasn't making some huge mistake.

A moment later, he was standing at the top of yet another ramp, this one made of hard-packed earth that showed signs of constant use. Now he was looking out over a huge field, filled with people and equipment. And all of them looked like Teal'c and were wearing some outlandish looking outfits that you'd never see at home – not even in California. But they looked natural on these folks.

"O'Neill."

One of the people that had been waiting for them broke off from the group and was walking up the ramp. An old man who had already smiled a greeting at Ian and was now turning his attention on River and Jack. From the description, this had to be Bra'tac.

"Master Bra'tac," Jack said, holding his hand out and grasping Bra'tac's warmly. "It's a pleasure to see you again."

"And you." The old man turned his attention to River, then. "This is your young pilot?"

River smiled, a little awkwardly. It wasn't every day you were addressed by an alien, after all, and Jack slapped him lightly on the back.

"River Hayden, this is Master Bra'tac. One of the finest Jaffa warriors you'll ever have the privilege of meeting, and Teal'c's mentor. Master Bra'tac, this is River. Shawn's roommate at the academy."

Bra'tac offered Hayden his hand with a smile.

"I have heard many good things about you from Ian Brooks," Bra'tac told him, taking River's arm in an odd handshake.

River looked over at Ian, surprised.

"You have?"

Bra'tac smiled, as did Jack, but Ian just scowled.

"Yeah, well… don't let it go to your head."

River turned back to Bra'tac.

"It's an honor to meet you, sir."

Which was enough of a greeting for Bra'tac. He released River's arm, and turned, gesturing towards the three small gliders that were sitting further down the field, obviously waiting for them.

"O'Neill tells me you have a love of flight and has requested that I introduce you to craft that you would not have a opportunity to fly on your planet."

Which was what River had been told was going to happen. He nodded, unable to hide his excitement as he looked over at the ships that were sitting there.

"I can't wait, sir."

Bra'tac nodded.

"Then there is no reason to make you. Let us go."

"Have fun," Ian said.

"You're not coming?" River asked.

"Are you nuts?" He shook his head and pointed to where a group of men were sparring, obviously practicing some complicated move over and under the watchful eye of a couple of instructors. "I'd rather get beat up any day."

Without another glance, he headed for the group of fighters, followed by Jaffer and Jack (the dog) who would not be able to fly with the others.

"Let's go," Jack said, smiling expectantly. He was looking forward to a day of flying too.

"Sounds great."

With that, River followed the others, heading for an adventure that he'd never have imagined possible a week ago. Goose and Maverick had never flown anything like those craft, and Bra'tac was going to make sure he could fly them before the day was out.

OOOOOOOO

"Bob? If you can't pay attention, you might as well go home."

With a startled scowl, Kinsey pulled his attention back to the Senate meeting at hand, frowning at the reprimand. Especially since the man who's spoken wasn't one of his superiors. But he was too distracted to pull rank just then. For that matter, he was so distracted; he actually did something he'd never done before to anyone he didn't have to. He apologized.

"Sorry."

The man nodded, accepting the apology graciously, although jaws dropped all around the table.

"We could postpone this… I know that Senator Hoff's death took you by surprise…"

Kinsey hesitated, and then nodded, glad for the excuse.

"Thank you. I think… I accept."

He stood up and without another word left the room.

It wasn't just Senator Hoff's death that had him rattled. Hoff was just the final straw. The last two weeks there had been several deaths in Washington D.C. Deaths that didn't seem connected – unless you knew the men – and deaths that had all been accidental. Again, unless you knew the men. Kinsey had known all of them. And knew that all of them were members of the Trust.

He'd suspected Hoff was clearing house at first; getting rid of those who seemed to be weaker links. Mainly because there were only two men with the brass to pull off that kind of house clearing; him and Hoff, and he knew it wasn't him. But the deaths had added up far too quickly, even though they went practically unnoticed by anyone but the police. There were no connections to the men, and all had appeared accidental, after all. Some of the accidents had been gruesome, but still, they were accidents. Or were supposed to look like accidents, anyways.

Then Hoff had been killed. Another accident. Sure, people fell off their balconies all the time, right? Kinsey didn't buy it for a minute, and now he was truly in a panic, because there was only one person who could possibly be responsible for the accident. One very angry father, who was obviously not at averse to taking permanent steps to insure that no one messed with his son. The problem now was that now that there were very few members of the Trust left, that made fewer targets, and Kinsey was almost certain that he was going to be next.

He kept his secret service detail close, although his permanently nervous state made him even harder to deal with than usual, and he was pretty sure by now that his detail would be just as happy to find him floating in the Potomac river as anyone else would. Which made him even more nervous.

The four man detail assigned to him was waiting by the door of the council chamber when he opened it, and he glared at them as he joined them, certain that one of them was going to sell him to Brooks any day now. Or maybe just hand him over for free. Who knew? The men all kept their faces carefully neutral, which was a sure sign of just how tired they were of putting up with his crap. But they didn't get paid to like the man, they were paid to protect him. So they took their places around him and waited for him to tell them where they were going.

"Home."

He had a splitting headache, and wanted to take a nap. When they exited the building, however, he stumbled and almost fell when he saw the car. Leaning against it casually, his hip resting against the front quarter panel, was the one man he'd been most terrified to see. Only a supporting hand kept Kinsey from falling, and he didn't even chew the Secret Service agent out for touching him. His heart was racing so fast that he wasn't even sure he'd be able to catch his breath, and his belly had tightened up so much he was afraid he was going to throw up then and there.

"Sir?"

The detail had seen Brooks, too, and recognized him from the restaurant a couple of weeks before. All of them knew who he was, and wondered what a man like Brooks would want with a snake like Kinsey. What they were asking, though, was what Kinsey wanted them to do. There were four of them, after all, and only one Brooks. And they could call for more help – which would be there in an instant. If Kinsey didn't want to talk to the general, Kinsey wasn't going to have to.

Kinsey's life had already flashed in front of his eyes before he realized the same thing the secret service guys had already known. Brooks couldn't hurt him here. Not this minute, anyways. And the general was smart enough to know it. Which must mean that he just wanted to talk – Kinsey hoped.

Pale and trembling, and long past hating himself for showing such weakness, Kinsey waved them away and walked to the car on his own.

"General Brooks… what a… pleasant surprise…"

How long ago had it been when he'd asked one of his lackeys what he'd ever have to fear from a chair warmer like Brooks? Kinsey hated the realization that that question had been answered – in spades.

Nathan Brooks nodded a greeting to the Secret Service guys, assuring them with that motion that he wasn't there to cause them any trouble. Which made them all relax just a little as they took positions just out of voice range – although they'd know immediately if Kinsey needed them. Then Brooks turned his cold blue eyes on Kinsey.

"You're losing friends left and right, I hear…"

"You'd know, wouldn't you?" His voice only shook a little. Something to be proud of, he supposed.

Nate shrugged.

"Is the lesson learned?"

"I didn't go after your son," Kinsey hissed. "I told them to stay away from him."

"I know. And that's the only reason you're still alive…"

Kinsey swallowed hard against a suddenly dry throat, but he didn't have to answer that, because Brooks wasn't giving him a chance to. He pushed himself away from the car.

"Keep it that way, Kinsey."

Without another word, Brooks walked away, leaving the Vice President of the United States standing there, watching him go, and feeling just a little surge of relief. He wasn't a target. And he damned sure wasn't going to allow himself to become one. He was tired of being constantly threatened and abused, and looking over his shoulder. Maybe it was time to rethink certain attitudes…

He turned and gestured for his detail. His head wasn't pounding quite as badly as it had been, and he was almost feeling giddy with relief, now, but he still wanted to go home.

The End

So! Another story told! River and Nate both know about the SGC, now, and things are getting settled into place for those that are still to come. Reviews are appreciated, so I know what you liked and didn't, and let me know what you want to see in the future. If it goes with what I'm planning on writing, I'm always willing to add it in!