Part 14

General Hammond was not happy. Penthesilea wasn't talking. Correction, she wasn't talking to him or the President.  The Alliance meeting between the Furlings, the Knox and the Asgard had begun not long after Willow's disappearance. All the Amazon would say was that the agenda revolved around the situation on Niurin and the Goa'uld System Lords. 

This was one of the aspects of his job that he hated. The President had emphasized how much an alliance with the Furlings was desired and as a consequence he was to show her every consideration while she remained on Earth. His years of experience told him that something major was happening. His gut feeling was that whatever had captured the Alliance's attention would eventually affect Earth and his first priority was to secure the safety of this world. As his eyes lit on Jack a plan began to form of how he could work around the conditions the Furling and the President placed on him.

Penthesilea watched Hammond. She knew he wasn't happy with the present circumstances and as leader of her sect she would feel the same way if the roles were reversed. She would even be devising a way to work around those circumstances to her advantage and she was sure the General was doing the same thing.

Willow took a deep breath and answered Colonel O'Neill's question AGAIN. "I'm sorry, I really am. I've tried thinking about the Goa'uld but nothing.  Yeah, I can do a fancy light show as I move from one plane of existence to another and I know how to defeat demons but nothing about the Goa'uld.  I swear if that knowledge popped in my brain I'd tell you.  I don't know how it works I just know that one minute I was plain old Willow from Sunnydale and the next I have all this knowledge floating around in my head." Willow turned to Daniel as he opened his mouth to ask another question, "Believe me for every question you have I have about ten times more. I wish I knew why or how but I don't."

Jack sympathized with Willow, he knew what it was like to have all this knowledge floating in your brain and no idea how it got there or why. 

He still wasn't sure exactly what happened to her but Willow didn't seem to be adversely affected.  In fact she seemed to have much more confidence than when he first met her.  He didn't trust the Furling. It wasn't anything against HER he just didn't trust any of them. They all had a hidden agenda and used them as pawns for the bigger picture and he was getting tired of being a pawn.

Penthesilea moved to stand next to Willow and interrupted the questioning. "It is time to return you to Niurin, Willow we are needed there."

General Hammond caught Jack's eye and motioned for him to follow him out of the briefing room.

~~~~

"I've just received word from the President regarding your status with SGC."

"What do you mean my status? I'm a member of SG-1."

"Technically yes you are. However, you and I both know that two Jacks couldn't be on the same team. As much as it pains me to do this I'm afraid I'm under orders to have you removed from SG-1."

"General!"

Hammond held up a hand to stop Jack, "Jack, you're not being removed from Stargate Command just SG-1."

"Perfect. I get split by some energy blast while on duty and bam my life goes to hell."

"I'm offering you a special assignment."

"No offense but if it's a desk job I'll go back into retirement."

The General's eyes glanced over to where Willow was saying her goodbyes to Sam and Daniel.  "It's more along the lines of covert ops."

That perked Jack's interest. Ever since this whole nightmare happened he'd felt like his life had been stolen. Sure it was stolen from him by an alternate version of him but it was still stolen.  He didn't want to contemplate not being on a team with Carter, Daniel or Teal'c.

"Covert ops?"

"My hands are tied by the President but you've been given a leave of absence until you can be reassigned. I thought you might want to spend your downtime off world. There were no conditions placed on where you spent your leave."

Jack looked through the glass into the briefing room at Willow, "So let me get this straight you want me to go with Willow to find out what's happening on her world that has the Furlings and the Alliance's panties in a twist?"

"Not quite how I'd put it but yes, I'd like a report of what's happening."

~~~~

Willow jumped as the door to the briefing room slammed open and Jack came storming in the room.

"It seems you have another traveler on your journey home."

Penthesilea looked from the General to Jack but couldn't see anything except animosity and resignation. "I don't believe you were invited."

"I don't believe I asked your permission." Jack shot back. "It seems my life has gone to hell since visiting your charming world and since I've been told I can't stay here I'm going with you to get answers to what happened to me."

Willow reached out and placed a comforting hand on Jack's arm, "I'm so sorry, Jack. Maybe Giles will know how to fix it and make you one again."

The Furling looked long and hard at the Tau'ri. She knew there was probably an ulterior motive for this sudden development but she didn't think that one Tau'ri would make that much of a difference. She gave a slight nod of her head to Jack.  "Say your goodbyes, we leave soon."

Colonel O'Neill was about to object but he caught the General's eyes and with a silent signal from him he kept his mouth shut. It's not that he didn't want the other him to stay, he didn't. The knowledge that Jack version 2.0 possessed made him a security risk but on the other hand Jack WAS him and he knew that Jack would die before betraying the SGC.

Sam embraced Jack, "We'll continue to work on a solution on this end, Sir. I'm sure Janet and I can come up with something."

Daniel was torn, was it possible to miss your best friend yet still have your best friend beside you? "Take care, Jack.  Rupert had an amazing collection of research material and I'm sure if anyone can find out what happened, he can."

Both Jacks faced each other awkwardly. Colonel O'Neill put his hand out, "Well. See ya."

Jack shook his hand, "Yeah see ya."

Teal'c grasped Jack's forearm in a warrior's greeting, "It has been an honor fighting next to you Jack O'Neill."

"This isn't goodbye. I AM coming back."

An awkward silence greeted Jack pronouncement before Daniel spoke up, "Of course you are. I'm sure we'll have an answer in no time."

Penthesilea gestured and a flash of white light lit the briefing room. Daniel turned to look down through the observation glass into the debarkation room. He saw Willow place her hand in Jack's as the Furling activated the gate with a wave of her hand.

Jack gave a small salute to the General before walking through the shimmering water with Willow.