Louise walked casually back to Daniel's office to collect her bag so that she could head home. Hammond was right; she was a bit overwhelmed by all that she had been told.
First, there was the fact that she had always wanted to know who her biological parents were. Of course, once she found out that she was an immortal, she had thought that dream would never come true.
Then, there was the possibility that the Asgard might have created immortals, which was strange to say the least. Knowing that little grey aliens were the reason you were alive, the reason you couldn't die, and the reason you couldn't have children.
To top it all off, your biological mother and an immortal friend could help save the entire said alien race just because they're having a baby, which should never have been possible.
She had been told on joining the SGC that she should expect the unexpected but this… this was beyond anything she would have classed unexpected. Way beyond.
Turning a corner she realised she had reached Daniel's office without even realising that she had walked that far. She shook off the doubt that was clouding her mind and walked into the office going straight to her desk, which was the only clear surface in the entire office.
Taking a seat at her desk she quickly set the computer to shut down then reached under the desk to retrieve her bag. Once she was all set to leave she got up from her desk and exited the office; locking the door on her way out, as she didn't know when Daniel would have the chance to get back to his office.
The journey home was quick and uneventful, as it wasn't rush hour. She entered the cottage only to find it empty. As she moved through the house she noticed the smell of fresh coffee which indicated that Richie more than likely wasn't far from the cottage.
Putting her bag on the coffee table she walked over to the dining table, taking off her coat and throwing it over the back of one of the chairs. She walked to the back door and opened it to see Richie just reappearing from the tree line.
Richie's face turned puzzled at seeing her standing at the door to the cottage. "Louise? What are you doing back this early?" he asked walking up to her.
"Got let out a little early, they told me some interesting things and the General thought it would be best if I came home to try and think things through. I think he was worried I'd break one of Daniel's rocks or something."
"What did they tell you that made them think you'd need the rest of the day off to think about it?"
"They told me they know who my biological parents are…"
"But… How can they know? Your immortal! Immortals have never found out who there biological parents are!"
"I know. Since I found out I was immortal and Kenver told me all about immortals; I just accepted the fact I'd never find out who my biological parents were. I know who they are now and if I was to be one hundred percent truthful I'd have to say I have no idea how I'm meant to feel. I want to feel happy, but I can't. I want to feel angry, but I can't. I want to feel sad and once again I can't. I'm just… I don't know… confused!"
"So are you going to contact your biological parents then?"
"I don't need to, they contacted me. Well, to be truthful, this may sound crazy to you but they didn't know about me until a few weeks ago. As soon as they found out, though, they came looking for me."
"How could they not know about you? Yeah, I can understand if your biological father didn't know, but your…? Unless I missed something in biology at school how is possible that your biological mother didn't know about you?"
"Because she didn't carry me. It's complicated and I can't explain it at the moment. That's what makes it so confusing. Like I said, it's a strange story but it's true, if there was any doubt in my mind Janet's got the DNA test to prove it, but there's no doubt. I don't understand it fully myself but it just feels right."
"I don't understand what's happening, but if you need to talk about anything. No matter how cryptic, I'm here for you." Richie reached out and pulled her in to a hug; trying to give her as much comfort as possible.
"I know and I'm grateful for that," her muffled voice replied.
"So, what exactly should I expect when…well, when the Asgard get here?"
"Well, what usually happens is we get beamed to a space ship unexpectedly by a little grey alien with big black eyes. Then I usually lose track of anything that's going on unless it's Thor that's beamed me up to battle against the Replicators again!"
"Replicators?"
"Long story, short version - mechanical bugs that want to take over the universe."
"Right!"
"Ok, you all set?"
"Yeah, well I guess as set as I'll ever be."
"Well, it'll have to do."
Just then the door to the locker room opened and Sam and Daniel entered. "Sir, we've managed to get a hold of Thor. Unfortunately, he's unable to get to Earth for a few hours, Replicator issues again. Anyway he said there's another Asgard ship near by that will be able to beam you up so you'll be able to use their communication systems to speak to him before he arrives or you could just wait for him to arrive and speak to him directly."
"I think we need to get this over with before anything else happens so we'll go to the other ship and talk to him over the communicators until he arrives."
"Ok then. He said that anyone who wants to go should be in the Gateroom in thirty minutes."
"Let's go talk to Hammond and see if he wants to send any others up apart from Adam and me."
"Yes, Sir."
Turning around, Sam exited the locker room and everyone else followed her lead back to the briefing room. They retook their seats and were joined by Teal'c while Jack went and knocked on Hammond's office door. Hammond indicated that it would be a moment before he could come out. Jack used that opportunity to take his usual seat at the briefing table. Seconds later the General entered in from his office and sat down.
"Is it all set?"
"Yes, sir. Thor's not able to get to Earth for a few hours but there's another Asgard ship in the area so we're going to get beamed to that ship and communicate to Thor with their communication systems until he arrives."
"That's fine then. When and where are you getting beamed from?"
"In about fifteen minutes from the Gateroom. I recommend everyone not planning on getting beamed up leave the Gateroom."
"I agree. See to it. Colonel, you and Adam make your way to the Gateroom. Major, would you please tell Doctor Fraiser to get all the information she's been able to gather and join Colonel O'Neill and Mr. Pierson in the Gateroom."
"Yes, sir" Sam stood up from her seat and quickly exited the room knowing she had to get Janet quick if they were to meet the deadline for the beam out.
With Sam gone Hammond looked at the others and then dismissed them. Jack and Adam made their way down to the Gateroom while Hammond, Daniel and Teal'c made their way to the Control Room to watch there friends disappear in a flash of white light.
The small group watched from the Control Room as the blast door opened slowly and Janet was admitted carrying a laptop under her arm. The blast doors closed again as Janet walked up to greet Jack and Adam.
Moments later, Sam appeared by Daniel's side and she focused her attention in to the Gateroom where her lover and two friends were stood waiting to be beamed to an alien ship. The thought struck her that if she was to actually say that out loud to someone who didn't know about the Stargate program they probably would have thought her crazy.
A few minutes passed in silence as the group waited for their friends to disappear so when they finally did nobody was surprised. Daniel went to turn to Sam to give his friend a supportive smile, what he saw surprised him.
Instead of being greeted by a worried woman he was greeted by thin air. Sam had disappeared and he was guessing that when the flash of light took Jack, Adam and Janet it also took Sam for some reason.
The first thing Jack saw when he re-materialised above the Asgard ship was two, although fully clothed, still entangled people he least expected to see. Taking his eyes off the two entangled people he looked around once again spotting someone else that shouldn't have been there.
"OK. What the hell is going on here?" Jack shouted at the top of his voice but there didn't seem to any reply other than Louise and Richie breaking apart from their passionate kiss and Sam who grinned at the annoyance in Jack's voice.
Jack turned to Adam and in a sarcastic voice continued. "See what I mean about it always takes me by surprise?"
Adam tried to hide the smile that appeared on his face by looking over at Louise and Richie only to find the smile didn't disappear but increased in size instead once he caught the look of confusion on Richie's face.
"What the hell is going on? And how the hell did we get here, wherever here is?" Richie asked as he looked around the metallic room in shock, but he almost dropped with shock as he looked behind him and out of a window to see Earth.
Just the there was a swishing sound of a door opening in steeped a three foot tall alien.
"Greetings and welcome aboard The Bifrost!"