Chapter Nineteen:

I stepped out of the gate and shook my head, trying to shake the feeling of cold. It never ceased to amaze me that you still felt the same numbing feeling not matter how many times you travel through the wormhole.

"So where are we headed?" Daniel asked as the wormhole disengaged behind us.

"I'm not exactly sure." Dad replied. "Shannon?"

"West." I said. "It should be on the other side of that forest."

"Let's go then." Dad said, already striding forward.

I nodded and followed him, knowing I should probably be in the lead so I could watch out for the ruins we were searching for. I was gradually getting used to having someone else's memories – it was rather like having a movie played in your head. You could recognise the things you saw, but you had never been there or done those things.

"Hey, Shan, can I have a word with you?" Dad asked after a couple of minutes.

"Sure, Dad." I said. "What's up?"

"Well, I'm not really sure how to say this…" he began.

Oh my God. Was he going to say what I thought he was?

"…but, here goes: I'm sorry I dragged you into all this. I will never ever regret having you as my daughter, but…I can't help but feel guilty that you've had to take on so much responsibility because of me."

Woah. Sooo not what I was expecting.

"What are you talking about Dad?" I asked. "Is this about that whole Ancient thing?"

Dad grimaced slightly. "Yeah. I mean, what kind of father condemns a child to a life of protecting the Universe?"

"I would have done it anyway." I pointed out dryly. "I mean, it was only a matter of time before I got involved in the Stargate Programme. And, in case you haven't notice, that's kind of our job."

"I still feel bad."

"Don't, Dad." I said, giving him a hug. "Besides, I can do some really cool stuff now. Like glow and get myself a cup of coffee without even getting up."

"What?" Dad looked at me in surprise.

"You mean Janet hasn't told you yet?" I asked. "Apparently, I've got powers of telekinesis…which is just a fancy way of saying I can move objects with my mind. According to Janet, they should get stronger in time as my body adjusts to my awakened genetic material."

"Wow." He said. "Wish I could do that."

"You probably could." I said. "I'll teach you."

Dad gave me an amused glance. "Oh, you will, will you?"

"Of course." I replied with a grin. "Who else would?"

I laughed as he playfully hit me on the shoulder. Then I looked at him, and felt a teasing grin spread across my face. "Anyway, that's not exactly what I was expecting when you asked to have a word, you know."

At my words, Dad actually blushed! "Oh." He said softly.

"Oh my God!" I crowed. "You are thinking about it, aren't you!"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Dad said.

"Well, it's okay with me." I whispered as mom walked up.

Dad blushed a little more, before clearing his throat and sending a glare in my direction. I just laughed. "What's going on up here?" mom asked. "Have you found the ruins yet?"

"No, sorry." I said. "I think we've still got about another ten to fifteen minute walk."

Mom nodded. "Okay." She said.

I hung back a little, until I noticed Daniel's amused expression. "You know what?" I said. "I think I'm going to go and annoy Uncle Danny for a bit."

Dad shot me an annoyed glance at my not-so-subtle exit. Well, at least to him. Mom didn't look like she had a clue. "Just call me when we reach the edge of the trees." I said.

I drifted back to talk with Daniel who was walking beside Teal'c. "Hey T." I said. "Hey Danny."

"Leaving them alone, are you Shan?" Daniel asked with a grin.

"Who me?" I asked, grinning back.

"Indeed." Teal'c said. "I do believe you are trying to give O'Neill and Colonel Carter a moment alone."

"You know too?" I asked Teal'c.

"If you are referring to the imminent proposal of marriage from your father to your mother," Teal'c said. "Then yes, I know to which you are referring."

I turned to Daniel. "Did you tell him?" Teal'c was known for his uncanny ability to find out what was going on around the base (or mom's house when he came to visit!) without anyone having to tell him.

"I may have mentioned it." Daniel grinned. "So did he ask you?"

"Nope." I said. "But I did ask him."

"And how did O'Neill reply?" Teal'c asked.

"He blushed!" I said. "Dad actually blushed! But he never actually came out and said it. I told him I didn't mind, though."

Daniel laughed. "You didn't!"

"I did." I said.

However, before Daniel and I could share more than conspiring grin, that dad called out from in front. "Shan, we've reached the edge of the trees!"

"Coming!" I called back.

I jogged to where Dad and Mom stood a little way off. I looked around at the rolling hills that rose up towards the sky and closed my eyes, bringing my shared memory into my mind. "Up this way." I said, heading to the left. "We should see it up the top of this hill."

"Any idea what this fuel cell looks like?" Mom asked.

"Yeah." I told her. "Kind of like a large crystal, but covered in a metallic kind of case."

"Right." Mom said.

We all faithfully trekked up the hill at my lead, and I was glad that this planet had a cool breeze. It was a relief after all the walking. We soon found the ruins on the flat top, what was left of the marble gleaming in the sunlight.

What had once been a beautiful and breathtaking marble temple was now a series of slightly crumbling arches surrounding an elaborate altar. Just by looking at it you could tell it had once been an awesome structure. Even now it still held a haunting beauty that made you stop and stare.

"Amazing." Daniel said reverently.

"The Ancients were indeed gifted builders." Teal'c agreed.

I nodded, a soft smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. "You should have seen it just after it was built." I said. "The walls glowed silver in the moonlight."

We all stared for a few moments longer, before Dad broke the silence. "Come on, we should find the fuel cell." He said. "Any ideas, Shan?"

"I think its set into the altar or something." I said. "I'm just not sure how."

I walked forward, heading towards the centre of the ruins where the altar stood. The marble altar was covered in a layer of grime, but I could see the intricate designs that decorated its surface. I trailed my fingers over it, searching for a clue. A second later I felt Mom and Daniel crouch down beside me.

The three of us gazed over the altar for about an hour, trying to find the fuel cell. Dad, unfortunately, couldn't help anymore than I could, so after a while he wandered off to help Teal'c keep watch.

"I don't understand!" I snapped. "It should be here somewhere!"

"Could someone else have taken it?" Daniel asked.

"It's possible." I replied. "But I doubt it."

"Then where is it?" Mom asked, voicing everyone's thoughts.

I sighed. Then I blinked. "Let me try something." I said. "It could help, or it could be a complete waste of time."

"I think anything would help right now." Daniel said dryly.

Reaching out, I put my palm flat against the top of the altar and closed my eyes. I stretched out my senses and delved into the part of me that controlled my Ancient abilities. Breathing slowly and deeply, I sort of pushed some of that… energy towards the altar. I heard a soft gasp beside me and a grinding noise, before Mom put her hand on my shoulder and gave me a gentle shake.

I blinked open my eyes and stared in amazement. The bottom section of the altar had slid open to reveal a small chamber and a hand-sized crystal, which could only be the fuel cell. "Cool." I said.

"Very." Daniel agreed. "You were glowing."

"Oh." I blushed slightly. "Sorry."

Mom shook her head and tried to smile. "Its okay, Shan." She said. "It's just a little weird still."

I nodded and was about to say something else, when Dad walked over. "We've got company." He said.

"Friendly?" Mom asked.

"No." Dad replied. "It's a Descended One and what looks like his bodyguards."

Damn. I suppressed a shiver of fear and glanced at Daniel. "Take the fuel cell and get it back to the SGC as soon as possible." I told him.

He nodded as I stood. "Be careful." Mom said, also standing. "Both of you."

"We will." I said.

Dad and I walked to the edge of the hilltop, where we could see a group of armed men climbing the hill. Their weapons were varied, although many of them appeared to be Goa'uld. The men were not Jaffa, however. The shimmer of air in the centre of the group showed where the Descended One was.

I took a deep breath to calm my sudden nerves. "He's weak." Dad said softly. "He won't fight as hard as Anubis. Beside, this time I'm here."

I smiled. "I know. You always are when I need you."

We were still standing there, waiting, the men finally saw us. There was a chorus of shouts, but I ignored them. I focused my attention on the now shimmering figure in the centre of the group instead. Letting my powers grow, I felt myself begin to glow softly, just as my father did beside me.

"Ancients!" The Descended One snarled in a hollow voice. "So you have finally come for me."

Gunfire began to echo as Mom, Teal'c and Daniel dealt with the armed men.

"Yes." I said simply. "We have."

Dad and I reached out and clasped hands, our glows intensifying. I closed my eyes for a brief moment, before opening them again. Once again, I found myself in familiar surroundings. "Hey, it's my old place!" Dad said with a grin.

"Prepare to die Ancients!" A hollow voice called from behind us.

"Yeah, it is." I told Dad, before turning to the Descended One. "We have some ground rules here."

Just like Anubis, the Descended One seemed baffled and annoyed by my constraints, but arrogant enough not to care too much. "Ground rules, Shan?" Dad asked as we warily circled each other.

"It seemed to make sense last time." I said, a little defensively. "You got a better idea?"

"Yes, you can die!" The Descended One yelled.

"How about no?" Dad snapped.

The battle didn't take long, because as Dad had said, the Descended One was weak. He had spent too long away from his kind. Although, I have to say that Dad had made it easier by helping.

I opened my eyes, suddenly coming back to myself from wherever we had gone and sagged to my knees. Dad swayed where he stood, until Mom and Daniel jogged up to support him. Teal'c's strong arm helped me to my feet. "Where'd everyone go?" I asked softly, noticing the lack of armed men.

"They got a little scared when the two of you started glowing." Mom answered with a grin.

"Indeed." Teal'c agreed. "I do not think they will be back."

"Good." Dad said tiredly. "Let's go home."